Dad’s Choice: Budget-Friendly Father’s Day Gift Ideas

If your husband is anything like mine, he’s told you not to buy him anything for Father’s Day. My husband is very budget-conscious, so anytime a holiday comes around where we would be spending money on him, he often says thanks, but no thanks.

This year, however, I didn’t take no for an answer. But given the economic uncertainty most of us feel right now, I insisted that he give me some of his best ideas, from which I created these dad-approved, budget-friendly Father’s Day gift ideas that won’t break the bank!

I asked; he answered. Here you go, mamas!

FOR THE TRAVEL LOVER

Airpods Alternative

These wireless earbuds have been a huge hit for us both, and my husband really loves the price tag. They are waterproof, comfortable, provide great sound quality, and charge in the case with a USB connection. I also noticed immediately that the playtime between charges was much longer than I anticipated. If you’re looking for an affordable option to Apple’s Airpods, you can’t go wrong here.

Soft-Sided Travel Cooler

Whether you’re headed to the lake, the beach, on a road trip, camping, or heck, to your neighbor’s backyard, a good travel cooler is a must. This is great because it holds quite a bit, keeps things cold for 12 hours, and collapses for easy storage.

Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

My husband listens to music ALL DAY LONG, so when we are outside in the backyard, on the lake, or spending time with friends, this speaker is a fantastic way to easily add music the day. The sound quality is great, they have  over 27,000 five-star reviews, and they come in a variety of color options.

FOR THE FOOD & DRINK LOVER

Hammered Copper Drinkware

If your husband is a mixed drink fan, we love these hammered copper mugs! They’re masculine, great for Moscow Mules, and keep cold drinks chilled for quite some time even in the heat. (Pro tip: Williams-Sonoma does curbside pickup if you’re short on time to order them!)

Grilling Tools

With nearly 1,000 five-star reviews, this stainless set can’t be beat. They’re solid, heavy duty, and perfect for every grill.

Frosted Beer Mugs

On a really hot summer day, my husband loves to grab a frosted mug for a little happy hour. These traditional beer mugs seem very classic and sturdy, almost reminiscent of what you’d be served at a tavern in Germany.

OTHER FUN STUFF

“Whatadad” Tee

We were so excited to hear that one of our local Frisco favorites, Tumbleweed TexStyles, teamed up with Whataburger for a Father’s Day line! This tee is our favorite, and I’m hoping I can snag one during the next restock! See the full line of shirts and accessories and support local here.

Silicone Wedding Band

I grabbed one of these Qalo rings for my husband’s birthday a couple of years ago, and despite his initial skepticism, he wears it almost daily now. If your husband’s ring size has changed over the years or he’s just more comfortable in something more casual, this is a great option!

Shady Ray’s Sunglasses

Shady Ray’s sunglasses were one of my husband’s favorite finds of 2019. Here’s why: All of the glasses are under $50 with incredible reviews, AND they come with a lifetime guarantee. No questions asked, Shady Ray’s will replace your sunglasses for simply the price of shipping (around $8) if they get lost, broken, or scratched. When our youngest got a little too aggressive with them playing “family” with his sister, my husband requested a new pair and they were in our mailbox within a few days for just the shipping charge. Can’t beat that!

Portable Hammock

I started to include this in the travel section, but let’s be real—he might just enjoy this one most at home! This portable hammock comes in tons of colors, has incredible reviews, and can be set up almost anywhere. This is one of those things he will probably think he doesn’t want and then enjoy ALL THE TIME.

What would you add to our list of budget-friendly Father’s Day gift ideas? Has your husband or father received a Father’s Day gift he just raved about? We’d love to hear about it!

Allison Ezell
Allison and her husband, Blake, grew up in Dallas and made the move to the 'burbs in 2010 when she began teaching middle school in Frisco. After attending Texas A&M for her undergrad, Allison came back to Dallas to pursue her Master’s in Education from SMU. She has a huge love of writing and taught everything from preschool to eighth grade before obtaining her certification as a Pediatric Sleep Consultant. Today, McKinney is home for her circus which includes three children (four if you count her husband) and a troublemaking lab. Allison and her husband are both passionate about orphan care and adoption, a calling that led them to their adopted son from China and to pursue their foster care licensing during the pandemic. Keep up with all her shenanigans on Instagram!