Ask the Readers: How Do You Celebrate Father's Day on a Budget?

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Pam, Liz, and Betty for winning this week's contest!

Many of us tend to splurge on holidays and special events, but for holidays like Father's Day where you simply want to show your appreciation for someone you love, spending a lot of money isn't necessary. There are many free (or really cheap) activities you can do on a nice summer day, and there are many gifts that you can make yourself. Hosting a party? Ask your guests to pitch in. The bottom line is that you can celebrate your favorite dad without busting your budget.

How do you celebrate Father's Day on a budget? Do you plan to splurge for any part of the celebration, like for a dinner at his favorite fancy restaurant or a high-end gift that you know he'll love? If you're a dad, what is your idea of a perfect Father's Day?

Tell us how you celebrate Father's Day on a budget and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

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Guest's picture
Mami2jcn

We celebrate Father's Day on a budget by barbecuing at home. We don't like waiting at crowded restaurants anyway.

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Julie Wood

I make Dad dinner at home and make his Father's Day card with the kids and buy his gifts on sale with coupons.

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Karen

We make our own greeting card for Dad.

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V

Make dinner and a batch of his favorite cookies. He's a workaholic and is really hard to shop for, so just spending a whole day together catching up on life and telling stories is always a good gift.

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Elena

we eat out at affordable restaurant for Father's Day

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Gina

We host a BBQ and ask guests to bring a dish.

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Jenny D

My husband loves to ride his motorcycle so I usually buy him a gift that he can use for riding...usually it's something that will provide extra protection. It usually isn't a surprise what he's getting for Father's Day, because most of the time it's riding gear. This year is no exception as I'm giving him riding boots. These gifts are what I would consider a splurge, but he's worth it.

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Karen L

We have a family pot luck dinner and celebrate the dads in the family. They seem to like to have all the family together more than gifts.

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Monique Hubert

I keep it simple and focus on spending time together and focusing on gifts with sentimental value. Luckily, my dad enjoys the simple things, too.

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Matt

We do a barbecue or a brunch at home instead of going out.

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Pam ricks

We have a backyard BBQ!

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Mary W

Dad likes to enjoy his favorite meal with his family for Father's Day. We gather and each bring one of his favorite dishes for a picnic and spend the day playing games or just chatting. Money can't buy those kinds of memories.

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Kelli

Unfortunately, my father has passed, but my husband and I usually go and spend the day with his parents and we BBQ. We also bring a card and a small gift, so it isn't very spendy. Just a nice relaxing day with his family.

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C Hui

We usually eat dinner at home and spend the day at the park.

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Amy

We have a potluck at my parents' home. It lightens the financial load on everyone to just bring one dish. I coupon and bring supplies (napkins, paper plates, plastic cutlery) and drinks from my stock pile.

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Gina

We have a BBQ with the whole extended family and everyone brings something to eat or drink to share.

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Susan P.

The past couple of years we have agreed no presents for Mother's Day or Father's Day but instead we like to do free things like watch a movie as a family or go for a bike ride. Everyone is so busy that we don't get together as a family as often as we'd like. I will make dinner based on Dad's favorite foods, though.

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Emily S.

We have a cookout and all of my siblings bring a dish to pass!

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MELISSA HANSSON

I stock up on thrifty, but thoughtful gifts at great prices throughout the year and then I mail one box of birthday, mother's and father's day gifts altogether at once, as these dates are all close together. I leave it up to the fam if they want to wait and open on the "right" day or if they want to open everything at once.

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Liz

We do small gifts and just spend time together.

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Betty D

I just cook at home, and make a Father's Day cake. My daughter and step daughter will both come. We usually have a fun day.

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Donna D

Unfortunately, my dad and my husband's dad are both gone. I'll hope to stop at the cemetery.

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Michelle D.

We have a BBQ at home with the family and I will usually do the main course and someone will bring sides and my sister always brings dessert.

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Miss kim

We serve breakfast in bed and then later have a bbq for lunch/dinner

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Ernest S.

We take my Dad out to lunch, but have the cake at home (instead of the restaurant).

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Rebecca Ross

I always try to buy all my gifts way ahead of time to get good deals, but for father's day, a lot of times I get my dad a bunch of brownie mixes, b/c he loves to make brownies.

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Sarah

We make dinner for dad at home

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Rich

A free ecard and a great meal at home

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Ashley P.

we have a barbecue at home and usually will make a cake instead of buying one.

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Emily

I'm buying my dad a CD and calling him.

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BRB

I just always have a limit when giving gifts no matter what the holiday.

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Michael

My family will make me a home cooked meal with all my favorite foods and are nice to me all day. I don't care about presents.

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Laurajj

Yes, we always stay on budget for Fathers day...and other holidays! If I do not have a budget...than I know I would spend way more. I always find it easy to find things within my budget for each holiday! The best gifts do not have to be expensive ones...its the little things that count!

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Erin

We make cards at home and have dinner at home

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Erin

We make cards at home and have dinner at home

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April

We stick to homemade gifts.

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SKB

We go to church and then have a nice breakfast at home.

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Happy Love

We Bar-B-Que.

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Carmen N

My husband requested a new cordless drill. They can be pricey, but I found one that was on clearance - I still don't know why; the brand/model is still available and I got it for just a bit more than new batteries cost!

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Ana L.

We barbeque and I make him a cake and buy balloons from the dollar store.

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Thomas Murphy

I cook my dad dinner.