For anyone else in my position, never fear; you can still have a good day without shelling out wads of cash. Here are a few ideas for spending time with your dad instead of money.

Day at the Park – Some of my best memories with my dad are from when we’d go to the park to fly kites during the summer. Why not relive some childhood memories that were equally as good for dear ol’ dad? Even if you didn’t do stuff like this when you were a kid, there are plenty of ways to hang out with dad outside: toss around the football, go for a hike, have a picnic. Options abound in the great outdoors.

Day in the Kitchen – This is for the dad’s who cook/grill. Why not plan a big Father’s Day meal and cook/grill it together? Dad will love showing off his skills (I know mine does), not to mention get some quality time with you. You could also bake him some special “I Heart Dad” cookies or cupcakes… and let him lick the bowl. How could he not love that?

Day at the Game - Fitting with our low cost theme, look into local sporting events for cheap tickets. In my hometown we have an indoor football league with $10 tickets and colleges who have free admission to their baseball games. Dig enough and I’m sure you’ll find something you and your dad can enjoy together.

Day in the Workshop – My dad’s a handyman, so I was thinking about doing a project with him. As long as you don’t mind getting a little sweaty, you can make anything from a birdhouse to a new bookshelf to the treehouse you always wanted but never got as a kid. You could even take some old furniture you have and get dad to help you turn it into something brand new. Let your creativity run wild with this one.

All in all, giving your dad a full day of undivided attention will make his year. That’s all he really wants anyway – at least more than another tie or coffee mug. Just put a little thought into it and your dad will love whatever you come up with.