Inexpensive Father's Day

We're in the same boat with money being tight BUT...I sent mine off to pick out some MUCH needed polo shirts ($9.99 right now) and shorts at JCP. I couldn't stand how his clothes looked. He's lost almost 70 pounds and REALLY needed new stuff badly.

Bring him his coffee first thing in the morning.
If he reads the paper, make sure it's ready for him to read (bring it in).
Take him to Outback for dinner so he won't have to BBQ in the heat.
Get him his favorite drinks during the day: water, lemonade etc.
Don't request too much help w/the kids but just for today and note I say not "too much" help. :)
Greet him w/a smile and a hug in the morning.
Have the kids make him a card.
Get his favorite snack sometime during the day (nuts, cookies whatever it is).
He can be off "duty" for any kind of house help or outside yard work.
Get him a card w/something nice and personal written inside or just write him a nice loving letter of all the reasons you love him.
A gift card to his favorite shopping place? (Can be Amazon if he shops online).
Framed picture of you and the kids. Grab what you have around the house.

how about a picnic lunch at a park so you can play with the kids.

I know my husband would like Outback; most men would enjoy a steak they don't have to fix themselves. And don't worry about your husband's responses - men frequently don't know what they want for Father's Day, but in their heart of hearts they want SOMETHING! :^)

I bet he would love the Outback! All men love a great steak:)

Here is what I am doing ... Helping my son make him a card :) ...he is 4 and so he does not really get the point of father's day! Then daddy and mommy are going to Dinner, Red Lobster mmmmm Tilapia... and then we are going to see "The Green Lantern" ... Mother's day was fairly simmilar ... all the ladies were treated to brunch and I got to go see "Thor" mmmmm Asgardian God of Thunder!!! So, fairly equal ... really we just look at those days as an actual exuse to go see a movie and do dinner ;)
It is cost effective for us b/c gma/gpa are watching the kiddo and Red Lobster is having the 15buck meal deals & we have earned points on our AMC movie card right now we have $10 off!
And if you Really want Outback call in your order when they open 11am and have it picked up, you can arrange for a certain time ... then stop at a store and pick up a cold can of Fosters Beer and eat Outback at home w/out all the fuss! and yes, tip your to go person 1dollar for each meal.

I usually help my kids make him a card. It's a craft (fun!) for them even if they don't understand the full meaning of the card, and it's great for hubby. You could make him a favorite dessert that he doesn't get very often. Maybe strawberry shortcake since it's strawberry season or whatever he likes. Get a friend, neighbor or churchmember to watch the kids for an hour and take a walk in your neighborhood or at a park alone with him. Whatever you do, remember to tell him he's a great father several times that day!

You can actually do a good steak in the oven. We found this out last winter. The main thing is to get a great steak. Go to your high end grocery store and get an expensive cut.
Make some baked potatos and asparagus to go with the steaks.

I am a nature girl (live in Lake Tahoe) but I think a picnic with some homemade yummy dishes and a bottle wine or beer at the beach/on a river/somewhere beautiful and relaxing is the best. The kids love it and it is relaxing and cheap!

For Father's Day every year, we go to the Pirate Festival in Vallejo (it's free!!! and you can bring your own food/beverages if you want). Google "Nor Cal Pirate Festival" for the website and details!

I know something my husband would probably like is some time to play one of his console games (Call of Duty, Homefront, etc)... especially the ones which shouldn't be played in front of young children.

And since Dad's the cook in our house, we'll probably eat out somewhere (if we don't eat at the Pirate Festival, or his parents don't invite us over for bbq)

I agree about it not being special until YOU make it special.

I don't understand why everyone needs to give a gift. Why can't you just do something special for him? wash his car, give him the day off from doing any chores, cook his favorite meal, have the girls make him a card. Just spend the day as a family doing something you all enjoy.

I don't know if you have this kind of thing in Santa Rosa, but here in Mountain View we have a great train, Caltrain, that's mostly a commuter train during the week. I'm planning to take us all on a train ride to some destination with a park and pack a picnic. The kids will love the train ride and it will feel "special" for Daddy.

Aside from this, I know one of the things I want most on Mother's Day is TIME. I also want a little something special from my family, maybe a card and someone else doing the dishes, but 2-3 hours to myself in the afternoon is divine and a real treat. Just a thought...

outback is packed on any average Sunday. This one will be a nightmare. Make him a steak dinner at home and spend whatever is left indulging one of his hobbies. Buy him a stshirt from his favorite team. Or a poker strategy book and a hand held poker game. or a new set of darts or whatever he likes to do,

Have the girls put their hand/foot prints on a card. Michaels has cheap paint (0.89) and don't worry about it being toxic cause YOU will be washing it off right away. Then include a picture inside with a message from you. Check out the Dollar store for a frame, some are quite nice.

Outback's a nice place to eat but will definitely be mobbed this weekend. If you want to avoid cooking, pickup Outback. Or, even better, grab a great steak at a good butchers and BBQ it for him. Your butcher can tell you exactly the right cooking time/temp for it to be cooked how he likes it. Also, pick up a good beer and let him enjoy the whole dinner in the backyard or park with all his girls. Just choose a park with good shade and some sand to keep the kids busy... bring sand toys. Is there a park that has a water area to keep the kids (and you) cool while you are there? And remember to pack chairs and/or blankets to relax while watching the kids. Whatever you do, make it a fun family time.

He won't know how special the day is until you guys set or make the day a special tradition. Maybe have the girls make big Father's Day cards with their two hand prints with Finger Paint. Or you can clear off the table and put a vase of garden picked flowers and make a special breakfast and allow the girls to butter the toast or pick the flowers. Get a Sunday Newspaper and put it next to the breakfast with a special placemat. Or get a frame and put a photo of all three of you in the frame. You can make a Frame with Popsicle sticks and use puffy paint to write. Or take and old photo album and make it into a Daddy scrap book. there are many things you can do. Make a coupon book with coupons for a one hour free TV with no noise (hard to do but it is the thought that counts-lol) Have fun!!