7 Father's Day Gifts That Save Dad Money
Choosing a good Father's Day gift is notoriously difficult -- that's where the cliché about ties comes from. But with a little thought about what dad likes to do with his time, and the goal of finding him a gift that also saves him money, you're sure to come up with something great. Here are seven ideas to get you started.
1. A skill-improving class
Whatever dad is into, from badminton to barbecues, help him become better at it with a class or workshop. Many retailers offer classes to help customers understand and use their products. If your dad golfs, scout out golf courses that offer individual or group lessons. Check Groupon for local deals and savings.
Depending on the activity, dad's increasing aptitude might also save him more over time (think fewer lost golf balls and ruined racks of ribs).
2. Something of the Month Club
Subscription services are booming, so why not sign dad up for one? The product offerings are interesting, and there's nothing more convenient than getting stuff you like delivered to your door. A good place to start the search is AmazingClubs.com, which offers "Of the Month" gifts in just about everything you can imagine, from barbecue sauce to wine (and, of course, ties). Other companies offer periodic deliveries of specialized or niche products.
Dad's savings here are obvious -- you're buying!
3. Pour-over coffee kit
Maybe to go along with his Coffee of the Month membership, get dad a pour-over coffee setup. The pour-over brewing method has been around forever, but it has recently become popular with serious coffee aficionados who tout its ability to draw out the bean's essence. The system is simple. It's just a cone shaped receptacle for the filter holding the ground coffee, over which one pours boiling water. Coffee drips out of the spout on the bottom into a cup or a carafe.
Many vendors make them in a variety of materials, from Melitta's humble plastic cone available in grocery stores everywhere, to a custom-made pour-over contraptions in glass, brass and walnut found on a site like Etsy.
With his pour-over coffee brewer, dad can pocket the $2 to $4 he spends every day on his chain café cappuccino.
4. Magazine subscription
Every monthly issue of The Family Handyman features household projects (think raised planters and deck chairs), and tips and advice for common home maintenance chores and fixes, such as basic electrical and plumbing repairs. The articles and projects are well-illustrated, and the instructions are clear and easy to follow.
If dad is into gadgets and tinkering, a subscription to Make: may be more to his liking. For a serious wood worker, consider Fine Woodworking.
Whatever you choose, magazines like these can give dad the knowledge and confidence to tackle repairs and home upgrades he might otherwise hire out for (or just avoid).
5. The GolfNow app
The free GolfNow app lets duffers reserve tee times at thousands of courses nationwide, anytime, anywhere. GolfNow also offers discounted greens fees on select days and times. The premium version of the app offers scorekeeping, GPS course maps and more.
Dad saves with cheaper golf outings.
6. Home beer brewing starter kit
The equipment and ingredient requirements for large scale home brewing can seem daunting. Fortunately, there are plenty of starter kits available with everything dad needs to brew as little as a gallon of beer (about 10 bottles.)
Visit the American Homebrewers Association website to find a supplier near you who can help you find the right kit. The Brooklyn Brew Shop offers 1 gallon starter kits in a variety of styles. Midwest Supplies, a home brew equipment supplier, offers a more advanced starter kit for dads determined to start the hobby.
The startup costs -- even with beginner's kits -- mean home brewers have to keep at it awhile before this is a true money-saving proposition, but eventually, it will pay off. In the meantime, there'll be a lot of beer to drink.
7. Gym membership
To help dad fight off the physical effects of all the beer he's brewing, sign him up at the local gym and buy him a few sessions with a trainer. (Groupon deals can help you save a bit here, too.) Of course, it will be up to dad to stick with it and reap the rewards. Maybe you can be the motivation he needs for weekly workouts. It'll be the Father's Day gift that pays off in the form of good health.
Lars Peterson is an editor for Wise Bread, a personal finance blog that covers financial products and help readers find the best cashback credit cards.