Getting Personal

                Top Tips on Father`s Day Gifts
            
                Father's day is but once a year. However, it is worth scratching your head and having a think about. Why? Because you love your dear old Daddy and you want to get him something which makes him smile. He could have felt more like chauffer or handy man over the years, so making your dad feel special for being so good at fatherhood, makes perfect sense at least once a year.

Finding the right Father's Day Gifts can be tough though. Most dads purchase themselves whatever it is they crave all year round, so it isn't easy to surprise them with something they've said they want but haven't yet bought. 

What that means for most of us is that we have to be pretty creative with our Father's Day Gifts. Some inspiration wouldn't go a miss. So, if you're stuck for inspiration, you need look no further than our 5 top Father's day tips:

1.	Keep it personal. When you're shopping for father's day gifts you'll see loads of items which address 'dad' but they don't address your dad. If you can, consider getting him something which has been personalised with a pet name, thought or joke. That way he'll be able to see how much consideration and effort you've put in to your present. 

Another way to keep Father's Day Gifts personal is to choose those which are useful. Show your dad how well you know him by getting him something which is genuinely useful. If he drinks tea endlessly a personalised mug is perfect, if he forgets important dates a personalised superdad calendar could help. Men tend to like useful things rather than pretty trinkets so keep that in mind and you're sorted.

2.	Don't overspend. It's a trap. You think that you can get him several gifts and it'll be fine but mother's day is only a month away and she'd expect the same treatment on her special day too. Otherwise you might seem to be playing favourites. Although mother's day and father's day are important and well worth celebrating, they're not as important to most parents as their birthday, so don't set any overly generous financial presidents. 

If you do overspend, you could feel bad when you can't do the same for all your other family members and you might even trample on your brother or sister's toes. Generally speaking, father's day gifts should be thoughtful and modest.

3.	Plan ahead. If you like taking your dad out for a meal on father's day you'll need to plan ahead and book in advance because pubs and restaurants book up quick. Similarly, if there's a specific father's day gift you want to buy him, you should do so early and let your siblings know so you don't get the same presents for your father.

If things go wrong on father's day it is almost always because people didn't plan ahead or find out where their dad would be on his special day. Imagine turning up at your dad's house with tickets to see his favourite band (who probably plays live once a century) only to find out he's gone fishing.

4.	Make him laugh. Presents can be fun and silly as well as useful and meaningful. It's a scientific fact, that like snowflakes, all fathers are unique! So we won't give you too many ideas here. But if you know what makes your daddy laugh those great big belly laughs that might be a good present to buy him. 

If he loves a night out on the town you could take him to a comedy club or get him gig tickets for his favourite stand up. This laughter tip could also be as simple as buying a funny father's day gift or card. Interpret this tip however 'tickles' your fancy.

5.	Offer more. You don't have to spend a lot to offer your dad a lot. There's the classic breakfast in bed, for example, which needn't cost a thing. If you're in good shape you could offer to wash the car or mow the lawn or do some weeding, there's probably some housework you could do to help him out or another odd job you could offer a hand with. In short, think about how you can help out more. It needn't be in the short term either.

If you don't see your beloved daddy often, but do live near to him why not have a 'Daddy and Daughter', or 'Father and Son' night once a month where you watch the football, go for a meal or do something else fun together? You could use father's day to kick start the new habit. 

After all, it is true that father's day only falls once a year but he's still your daddy all year round.

Related article: Forget Him Not This Father's Day (Father's Day Gifts)