25 Gifts for Dad under $25

This is Barry’s public service post for the season. If you’re looking for ideas for what to buy dad for Christmas (or any other occasion for that matter), this is the post for you.  Of course not all of these will apply to your dad; maybe he is a manly man or maybe he isn’t.  Maybe he wants lots of stuff or maybe he is impossible to buy for.  Either way, if this list doesn’t give you a worthwhile idea or two, it is your responsibility to leave a comment with at least one decent idea I didn’t have that would work for your dad.  For everyone else, you are welcome to send me a gift for being so awesome and racking my brain for these 25 ideas to save you the time and effort.  You’re welcome. ;0)

1. Thermos mug – I have to blame my friend and co-worker Kelly for this.  A $20 coffee mug?!  Well, considering it literally will keep my coffee hot from 8 am to 5 pm and won’t spill when the lid is closed (I tested it), that’s pretty awesome.  Trust me, this is a worthwhile purchase for any coffee drinker on the go.
2. Shaving Soap/mug – I made this suggestion for Father’s Day.  Lots of you took it; many more should.
3. Shop Supplies – I have a Rubbermaid tote of old towels and misc. rags.  This is immensely helpful, but sometimes I just need something I can toss.  Buy a few rolls of GOOD paper towels, some Gojo, etc. and give your dad no excuse to ruin your kitchen towels.
4. Ammo – Maybe you aren’t into guns.  Sad.  If you ever shoot or hunt, you know ammo can be tough to find and EXPENSIVE.  Every man who shoots will appreciate a few rounds in his preferred caliber(s) to put down range. And if he’s an avid hunter, you can visit website for superior quality taxidermy mounts.
5. Redbox Promo Codes – For basically a buck, you can entertain your dad for up to 2 hours.  Seriously!  Buy him some promo codes for Redbox, then make him some popcorn to cap off this gift.
6. T-shirts – I wear a t-shirt every day, at least as an undershirt.  My dad wore a t-shirt under his uniform.  Most men I know wear t-shirts, but if you look in their t-shirt drawer, those bad boys are pretty ratty.  Give them a good upgrade.  But be sure to find out v-neck or normal collar, sleeved or sleeveless.  It is a big deal.
7. Manly Soap – I also wrote about this for Father’s Day.  No excuse – go get some of this stuff.
8. A decent flashlight – I carry a $50 flashlight (Streamlight PT1L) on my belt every day.  Yep – I’m cheap, but I believe in having a good light on me at all times and you’d be amazed at how often I use it.  $25 will buy a pretty good, portable (this is key) flashlight.
9. House shoes/slippers – I want a new pair of slippers pretty much every year.  I take off my shoes pretty quickly upon entering the house, so except in the summer, on go the house shoes.
10. Dangerous Book for Boys – This is such a fun book.  Stacy bought me a copy of this a year or two ago and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.  Fun projects, interesting history and lots of neat stories.
11. Bacon Candles – Yes, this is an actual fragrance.  It can’t be as good as the real thing, but who wouldn’t want to put it to the test?!
12. The Millionaire Next Door – Most men want to be successful and hey, who doesn’t want to be a millionaire?  Help him learn to live like one.
13. Cell phone case – Some people are really hard on cell phones.  They see them coming and lay down and die.  If your dad seems to have a knack for killing his phone, maybe a durable case is in order.
14. Work watch – I have a few decent watches and a couple of “cheap” ones.  Every man needs a watch he can wear during yard work or doing another “dirty” activity that won’t be too bad if he happens to scratch it.
15. Steak – Wrap a picture of what you’ve put in the fridge to grill for him that week sometime.
16. Work gloves – Don’t skimp…buy decent ones.  He’ll thank you.  I go through cheapies in no time, but have a $12 pair that have lasted me well over a year.
17. Nuts – My Dad LOVED nuts, especially almonds.  A safe bet with him when you didn’t know what else to get was to go to Sam’s Club and buy a big container of mixed nuts and another of almonds.
18. Batteries – Is there anyone who wouldn’t appreciate getting some AA or AAA batteries?
19. Gas card – I know $25 in gas won’t get you super far these days, but if someone offered me $25 in gas, I’d be thrilled.  Pair this with a sweet card inviting him to come visit you (if you don’t live at home) and it’ll be a winner.
20. Good coffee – Don’t give me some nasty, cheap coffee.  I’m a coffee snob.  Hook your dad up with some of the good stuff.
21. A charitable gift in his honor – One year I truly felt like God had given me so much I asked someone who would normally buy me a gift to use that money and do something good.  On Christmas, I opened a letter and details on a cool charity that got “my gift.”
22. Written letter – Not to your Congressman!!!  Sit down with a few sheets of good old-fashioned writing paper and a pen and get to sharing a bunch of your favorite memories with your dad.  This will become a TREASURE to him (and probably you, too).
23. Framed picture – Find your favorite picture of you and your dad.  Frame it in a nice frame, tuck a brief note in the edge of the frame about why it is your favorite.  Another gift you’ll both treasure for years.
24. Man night – Get in touch with some of your dad’s close friends and plan a guy’s night for him.  It could be playing cards, watching a movie, watching a sporting event, etc.  Just a specific cool plan for the guys to get together doing something your dad loves.
25. Meal plan – If your dad has some favorite meals beyond the steak I recommended above, maybe you can just insert them into your family’s meal plan and let him know via a simple gift certificate or two what’s coming to a dinner table near him.

As promised, there are 25 gifts for dad that can keep you from breaking the bank.  Surely at least one of them will work for your dad next time you go to get him a gift.  I’m always open for more ideas, and I bet no one reading would argue with them either.  Have some additional ideas – put them in the comments.

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