How to Choose the Best Father's Day Gifts

Dads can be hard to buy for. My own kids have complained more than once about how "impossible" it is to find perfect Father's Day gifts for me. And I readily admit that my wife is far easier to find the right gift for.

Fortunately, finding perfect Father's Day gifts can be made a lot easier by following these specific steps--make a list of any ideas you come up with in very particular areas and you'll be sure to find the best Father's Day gifts for the men on your list.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. For your first category of Father's Day gift ideas, think food. Dads tend to love edible gifts from steaks to pies. Last year, my daughter got me some "fancy" rubs for fish. Since I love cooking fish, this made for perfect Father's Day gifts. Of course, if your dad's not a big cooker, get him something ready-to-eat instead of an ingredient.

2. Next, when considering what might make a great Father's Day gift, think hobbies. My friends and I tend to have pretty expensive hobbies, so don't think you have to purchase something high end to suit us. If your dad likes golf, personalized golf balls can make the best Father's Day gifts. I love kayaking and my son got me a waterproof radio that I can take in the boat with me. Let your dad buy the expensive hobby equipment, but feel free to buy him something small that pairs up nicely with what he loves to do--hobby related gifts make fabulous Father's Day gifts!

3. Third, you might find creative Father's Day gift ideas by thinking pets. Fabulous new dog toys can make perfect Father's Day gifts. Stuff like Frisbees or a ball that lights up for nighttime games of fetch or an electronic mouse to torture the cat with... Anything that your dad's favorite pet will enjoy makes great Father's Day gifts because he'll appreciate that you put in the extra thought. Plus, these days, creative (and inexpensive) fun pet toys abound.

4. Fourth, add more Father's Day gift ideas to your list by thinking practical. Think about if there's anything your dad's mentioned lately. One year, I'd been complaining that my feet had been cold all winter and my daughter found me extra-warm socks from a military surplus store--she bought me several pairs and I absolutely loved them. It was great to know she was listening and thinking of me when she went shopping for her Father's Day gifts.

5. Finally, get all mushy with your Father's Day gift idea list and think memories. Just because mom's are known for being sentimental doesn't mean us dads don't succumb, too. So, if you had a great family trip in your past, why not dig out a family photo (say at the campsite), have it blown up and framed for your dad's desk. Or, you could spend the weekend with your dad making new memories. Both old and new memories make for perfect Father's Day gifts.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't get clothes. Unless you're really good at picking out things he likes, and you know he really appreciates it, buying your dad clothes is usually not great bang for your buck. Plus, it just adds clutter to his closet and can be time consuming for you to pick something out. So, remember unless you're great at picking things he adores, clothes don't make great Father's Day gifts ;-). (Genuinely practical clothes may also be okay--see my sock example--but you're best off getting practical clothes plus food if you want to really give great Father's Day gifts ;-).)