Dad-ready gifts from the dollar store

With Father's Day fast approaching, I thought it might be a good idea to take a look at some affordable options available for kids to give to good ol' dad. These pre-wrapped presents could be at least part of the perfect solution. I really like the multi- function desk calculator. It has an alarm, a timer, the year/month/day displayed along with the time and, should he need to know, Dad can also check out the time in sixteen other cities. How cool is that? This would be perfect for a dad who travels a lot, as it folds up into a neat little package when not in use. It comes with a one year manufacturer's warranty, too!

Some of the boxes come with a picture of the contents on the front of the package that is easily removed for gift-giving. Otherwise, there is a small sticker on the back stating what's inside. This emergency flashlight runs on two AA batteries, not included, and can be used in regular or red flashing mode. There is also a small whistle tucked into the handle. It comes with a 1-year warranty, as well. This might be included in a gift for a dad who likes the great outdoors. Alternately, you could team it up with a travel mug for the car. I saw some nice black and chrome travel mugs in the dollar store, too.

I don't know why you can suddenly get these electronic gadgets for $1.00. I can only surmise that there are too many other gizmo's in our lives, like cell phones, that have alarms and calculators built into them.