3 Free Ways to Pamper Dad on Father’s Day

Many people associate Father’s Day with gifts like cheesy patterned ties, funny mugs and fancy cologne. But you shouldn’t have to break the bank (or make Dad groan from the joke on a silly T-shirt) to show him you care. Maybe he’s not a fan of tangible gifts, or maybe your financial situation is tight. Either way, there are many ways to make the dad in your life feel special without the splurge.

Here are three free options you should consider this Father’s Day:

Make him an amazing meal

Whether it’s a full breakfast spread and his favourite coffee or the tallest sandwich you can make for lunch, go all out with the meal he loves best. A pile of bacon and eggs, his dream burger covered in mayo…don’t hesitate to treat him. Father’s Day was invented to celebrate dads, so put something together you know he doesn’t get to enjoy on a day-to-day basis.  

Spend quality time together

There are many ways to bring some free fun into Dad’s life. Maybe it means going for a walk in the park, playing catch, or going berry-picking. Maybe it means going fishing or taking the canoe out on the lake. It could even involve buttered popcorn and movies or board games at home. Whatever you do, give him your full attention. This is especially great if one or both of you are often too busy to get together.

Clean out the garage

Does he have a car he’s working on? Is he a ‘too many tools, not enough projects’ kind of guy? If the garage is particularly special to the dad in your life, pamper him by cleaning it. This is especially perfect if he’s been talking forever about organizing the garage, but just hasn’t gotten around to it yet. While it might be fun to plan a surprise, if it’s his ‘domain’, make sure you run it by him so you don’t accidentally throw out something he cares about!

From gardening gear and tools, to paint cans and sports equipment, move everything out if possible. Lay it all on tarps in the driveway or in the yard. Give the concrete floor a good power washing. Then organize the little things into waterproof bins, which you can stack or put on shelves later. Move out-of-season items into storage and get rid of anything that’s broken or hasn’t been used in over a year.

Dads are great, and they deserve to be honoured more than once a year. But Father’s Day is a great place to start, and it’s easy to find an excuse to do something nice for one of the most important men in your life. Why not start with one of these three things?