10 Father’s Day Gifts for Stay at Home Dads

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Father’s Day is this upcoming Sunday. Did you get something for the dads in your life? Dads can be difficult to buy for. Trust me, I am a dad and I don’t want to buy anything. I absolutely do not want anything that isn’t useful. Please do not get anything that will just sit around collecting dust. It costs money and it will make the place even messier. The best bet is to get an upgrade to replace something that is getting worn out. There are plenty of gift guides for the typical working dads so I’m writing for the early retiree dads who read this site. Feel free to pass this along to your wife and kids if you think this is helpful.

*Originally written in 2016. Updated 2023.

1. Time

Any stay-at-home parent wants a little more time to do what they want. Time was a precious commodity when our son was young. But it’s a lot better now that he is going to school. Summer is almost here, though. We’ll spend a lot of time together again. I’m looking forward to playing sports and taking to fun events around town.

To give the gift of time, I would look for an affordable week-long summer day camp in your area. That’s a great gift for a stay-at-home dad with young kids.

Another way to give dad a little time is to buy a complex toy for the kid. RB40Jr used some of the money in his piggy bank to buy the LEGO Star Wars First Order Transporter. He spent 2 days putting it together and he loves it. He decked out the transporter with all the lasers, missiles, and troopers he had. It is pretty intimidating.

2. BBQ

Every dad loves to grill, right? BBQ accessories are a perennial Father’s Day gift for a reason. Check the grill to see if you could get a nice accessory. I would love a warming rack to keep food away from the fire on our grill. Also, check the grill brush. If it’s all gunked up like mine, I bet your dad would appreciate a new deluxe BBQ grill brush.

If you have a big budget, here is a BBQ smoker that I have my eyes on – the Pit Barrel Cooker. It has rave reviews and promises to be the easiest way to smoke your ribs. We moved to a house and have more room for a BBQ now. Unfortunately, I’m trying to eat healthier so smoked meat is out. BBQ is great once in a while but isn’t healthy if you eat it too often.

3. Kitchen stuff

As a stay-at-home dad, I cook every weekday. I’m sure most dads have to cook too. We appreciate having good tools in the kitchen. Look around the kitchen and see if there is anything that’s used a lot. A good chef knife is a must because prepping with dull knives is not fun. If you still have the crappy knives from college, it’s time to upgrade to something nicer. J.A. Henckels makes good knives at an affordable price. Check out Wusthof if he is an aspiring master chef.

Another option is a new pan. I just got a new nonstick pan from OXO for about $50. Nonstick pans lose their effectiveness after a while. I usually cook on my carbon steel skillet, but we still need a nonstick pan for pancakes and other delicate recipes.

Just see what gets used the most and get an upgrade.

4. Daddy’s Juice

Mom has her mommy’s juice so dad needs some, too. Personally, I love a good local IPA. You know your guys best so you know what to get them. If they love beer and you have space, check out a home brewing kit. I’d love to try one of these starter kits, but we just don’t have the space. I guess it’s a good thing we live in a small condo. It really helps with the whole frugal thing.

*I rarely drink beer anymore. I need to reduce my triglyceride level. 🙁

5. Shaving Kit

Shaving, every dad has to do it… Recently, I changed to a safety razor and I like it. The blades are super cheap and the shave is good. It’s the most economical choice in the long run.

If you like the 4 blades system more, then check out Dorco. They make good razor cartridges at a reasonable price.

6. Hawaiian shirts

Getting a Hawaiian shirt is what you do when you turn 40; accept it. Hawaiian shirts are great gifts for stay-at-home dads. I wear them on special occasions when a t-shirt won’t do. I even got a compliment at the summer camp. The kids love Hawaiian shirts. Yes, life is tough for us stay-at-home dads.

7. New Board games

I hate the Monopoly board game. RB40Jr is obsessed with Monopoly and chess. Everyone is tired of playing the same board games over and over so let’s get something new. There are a ton of age-appropriate board games out there. Our latest acquisition is Azul. It’s a fun board game.

8. Boxers

Check the underwear drawer. If the boxers are in tatters, get him some nice new ones. I’d skip Hanes, Fruit of the Loom, and the other common brands. Those cheap boxers don’t feel great. I like the 100% cotton boxers from Gap.

9. Virtual Reality Headset

The ultimate “leave me alone” kit! On second thought, these probably aren’t the best gifts if you want the dads to be present. Apple’s new Vision Pro VR looks awesome. But the price is a little high for now. I’ll wait for the technology to improve and the price to drop before buying one. I heard it is pretty uncomfortable after 30 minutes of usage.

10. Going out with the missus

Get a babysitter and take your guy out for dinner and drinks this weekend. It’s great to spend family time at home, but you need to spend time as a couple, too. We’re going out to try a new restaurant this Thursday. I’d rather avoid the crowd on Sunday. We’ll hang out at home and relax instead.

That’s all I got. What do you think of my list? What would you like for Father’s Day?

Happy Father’s Day!

Joe started Retire by 40 in 2010 to figure out how to retire early. After 16 years of investing and saving, he achieved financial independence and retired at 38.

Passive income is the key to early retirement. This year, Joe is investing in commercial real estate with CrowdStreet. They have many projects across the USA so check them out!

Joe also highly recommends Personal Capital for DIY investors. They have many useful tools that will help you reach financial independence.