The Perfect Father’s Day For Under $50

Okay, confession time.

I may possibly be the worst wife ever when it comes to celebrating occasions for my husband.

On his recent birthday we got in a fight two days before the event and thus he got nothing, not even a card (I was REALLY mad at him!). The Father’s Day before that he received a gift card to BCF (which I then used to buy myself and our daughter two new fishing rods..and yes, they were pink).

What makes it even worse is that my hubby is the king of great gifts I’m talking jewellery, salon appointments, dinner outs, comfy slippers – the works.

His perfect Father’s Day may involve an expensive dinner out, box seats to a footy game and a brand new fishing boat, but this is never, I repeat, never, going to happen. We’re not KimYe!

So this year I’ve set myself a challenge to pull off a perfect Father’s Day, complete with a delicious breakfast, thoughtful gift, family fun adventure and adorable theme, for under $50?

Can I do it in this economy? Let’s try to do that together.

Planning The Perfect Father’s Day

1.Theme it Up

How about a theme for the day just to make it look like you did some thorough planning? Nothing says “I love you Dad” quite like a family of superheroes serving up breakfast.

Your kids most likely already have a wide range of superhero or princess outfits from Halloween or Book Week that they can put on and it’s easy enough to throw a towel over your neck and don your underwear over your tights for the morning.

Or dress the kids in their dad’s favourite sports team colours and pick up napkins and a cheap poly tablecloth to match.

Budget: around $10 for materials

2. Wake Up Dad for Brekkie

Budget: $20.00 or whatever is already in the pantry

Start the day with Dad’s favourite breakfast—cooked with love. Eggs, toast, pancakes, and coffee are all affordable staples. Even with a quick grocery run, this part can stay under $20, especially if you shop smart or already have basics on hand. Bonus points if the kids help and don’t accidentally salt the pancakes.

3. Find and Assemble a Thoughtful Gift

Budget: $20-$30

Okay, perfect Father’s Day breakfast is done and you have $30 to spare. Time for the gift!

To create the homemade look, pair the gift with a crafty card from the kids and wrap the present in paper that has been decorated by the kids as well.

My kids love doing this! We simply cut out pictures from old magazines around the house and use stickers and coloured sticky tape.

Sure, it looks like Mister Maker vomited all over the present, but it’s the thought that counts right?

For ideas – think: a framed photo, a favorite snack box, or even a personalised playlist. Wrap it up in kid-decorated paper with a homemade card, and it’ll feel like a million bucks—without costing more than twenty.

4. Choose a FREE Family-Friendly Activity

Budget: – $0

Next, it’s time to plan the rest of the day.

You can spend a lot of money on the Perfect Father’s Day taking Dad and the kids to the movies, a footy game, a zoo or an aquarium is going to cost you a fortune, If you have the budget, then go for it! But if not, and you’re going for the under 50 dollar day, never fear, we have plenty of free ideas too:

• Go to a park or beach that you’ve never been to Bypass the ones you always go to and explore somewhere new. Pack balls, kites, shovels, buckets, fishing rods or whatever else you like to do when out for the day.
• Pack the kids up and go for a hike or walk around a national park Just be sure to bring plenty of water and research the degree of difficulty before setting out.
• Go four wheel driving (okay so you’ll be wasting gas money but if this is something your husband really loves to do, it’s worth it!)
• Set up a campsite in your backyard and stage a camp in for the night.
• If you are rained out, stay in?and stage a movie day. Dad gets to choose the movies and everyone has to watch them (and not groan).
• Go bargain hunting by checking out various garage sales in the area Everyone is allowed to pick out one small item” but the catch is it cannot cost more than $3.00. Again, this one may set you back an extra $12 or so that’s not included in the 50 dollar budget.

So there you go the Perfect Father’s Day, complete with a delicious and affordable breakfast, a thoughtful gift, a fun-filled family day and an excuse to wear underwear over your tights.

Clare Whitfield Chief Editor

Clare Whitfield is the Editor of Stay at Home Mum and a recognised voice in practical home management for Australian families. Based in the northern suburbs of Sydney, she balances editorial leadership with life as a stay at home mum to two school age children. Her background in home economics and more than a decade of experience in recipe development, family budgeting, and household systems inform her work.

See Full Bio