With a Little Creativity, Christmas Gifts for Dad Are Just s Step Away

Dads work hard all year. Yet every holiday season they can be among the most challenging family members to shop for. This year can be different with thoughtful Christmas gifts for Dads that reflect his interests. The following guy-oriented gifts will make Dad smile and fit into any budget.

Dads work hard all year. Yet every holiday season they can be among the most challenging family members to shop for. This year can be different with thoughtful Christmas gifts for Dads that reflect his interests. The following guy-oriented gifts will make Dad smile and fit into any budget.

Nintendo Wii

The Nintendo Wii continues to be a hot-ticket item. Let the child inside Dad come out as he gets back in touch with his inner-gamer or explores his aspirations to be a golf or tennis pro. If you already have a Wii, invest in a new game that reflects his interests or new accessories to make his downtime even more fun.

A basic Nintendo Wii system runs approximately $250 and is available from retailers such as Best Buy, Target, and local Game stores. The accessories and games cost anywhere from $20 (for an extra controller) or $100 (for a game like Guitar Hero).

Manual Hydraulic Log Splitter

Encourage your Paul Bunyan to get out and cut up some trees. A manual log splitter increases the ease and speed of splitting logs to burn in a fireplace, wood burning stove, or outdoor fire pit.

The Northern Industrial Horizontal Log Splitter is an excellent value at $170, and can be purchased at www.northerntool.com. The splitter has wheels for easy transport, a two speed pump, and can split logs up to 18-inches long.

Presidential Biographies

This has been an exciting political year. In addition to President-Elect Barack Obama's preferred biography about Abraham Lincoln, many new biographies provide insight into the shaping of our political system. The father in your life might enjoy the following titles.

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin ($12 at Amazon.com)

Traitor to his Class: The Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt by H.W. Brands ($21 at Amazon.com)

American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham ($17 at Amazon.com)

iTunes Gift Certificate

No matter what the value, an iTunes gift certificate is a great Christmas gift for Dad. He can purchase music, movies, or TV show episodes - whatever makes him happy.

iTunes Gift Cards are widely available at any store selling iPod products, and can also be purchased through the on-line Apple Store.

Hot Sauce

Encourage Dad's forays into the kitchen condiments that speak his stomach's language. Give him sets of hot sauce beyond the traditional Tabasco to spice up his life.

Hot sauces come with entertaining names (like Big Dawg Slobber Sauce) and a range of heat. Many Internet sources are available such as www.hotsaucedept.com, but many local gourmet food stores also carry a variety of hot sauces. The range of choices is gentle on the budget, starting at $5 per bottle.

Yes, he'll appreciate an updated picture of the kids. And he probably does need a new sweater. But get a Christmas gift for Dad that he really wants this year.