Spending on Father’s Day won’t match Mother’s Day

Settle down, dad — this Father’s Day, you may not get as much attention or as big of a gift as mom did.

Father’s Day spending this year is expected to be 30.2 percent lower than Mother’s Day with an average of $113.80 being spent on dad and $162.94 last month for mom, says the National Retail Federation.

The amount of people celebrating Father’s Day is also less than Mother’s Day as 76.1 percent plan to honor their dad as compared to 84.5 percent who treated their mother on the holiday.

“It really doesn’t surprise me,” said Summerlin resident Molly Kennedy. “I feel like there is more pressure to buy something for mom on Mother’s Day and it seems to be celebrated more seriously.”

Kennedy added that she usually buys her father fishing or pool equipment.

“I like to get him things that help him relax,” she said. “I think people go for easier gifts with their dads. My mom likes sentimental items that make her smile and my dad wants things he can play and kill time with.”

Nationwide, Father’s Day sales are expected to reach $12.5 billion. In Nevada, some $184.4 million in sales are anticipated.

According to the survey, the most popular Father’s Day gift is a greeting card, followed by a special outing, gift cards, books, music, electronics, and computer-related accessories. Automotive accessories, home improvement and gardening supplies, tools and appliances, sporting goods and leisure items are least commonly purchased for dad.

Lucas Quinliven of North Las Vegas said he always buys a greeting card first before deciding on a gift.

“This year instead of material things, I will be treating my father to a round of golf,” he said. “My family and I will also be having a barbecue because he’s most happy having all four kids under one roof together.”

Quinliven added that he’s not surprised that people spend more on their mothers on Mother’s Day.

“Being in the restaurant industry, I know full well that Mother’s Day is treated as a bigger holiday than Father’s Day,” he said. “I believe that fathers somewhat take pride in the fact that they take a back seat to their female counterparts.”

For the third consecutive year, online digital coupon marketplace, RetailMeNot, also released a survey about Father’s Day spending.

“We write our own questions for the survey and work with a research team,” said RetailMeNot Senior Lifestyle Editor Trae Bodge. “Given that RetailMeNot is a coupon site, we’re very interested in shopping and want to know what consumers are thinking about, how much they’ll spend and get a sense of what categories people are interested in buying in.”

RetailMeNot’s survey revealed that 58 percent of fathers feel they spend more money on their partners for Mother’s Day that they spend on them for Father’s Day and 48 percent of consumers admit to spending more on Mother’s Day.

“After talking to some men it seems like they don’t pay attention as closely to the price as women do and want to please,” Bodge said. “[Spending more on mothers] is something that has popped up in the past and after conducting conversations my census is that it’s our obligation because these are our mothers and our fathers don’t require as much TLC (tender loving care) as moms do.”

Las Vegas resident Laura Hibbetts said she typically spends $50 on her father and slightly more on her mom.

“My mom is easier to shop for than my dad so I’ll get her jewelry and get my dad polo shirts,” she said. “This year I’m just getting him a card because I’m broke. My parents love when I get them cards and typically don’t like me spending money on them, but they appreciate when I do.”

Contact reporter Ann Friedman at afriedman@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0391. Follow @AnnFriedmanRJ on Twitter.