Dad's business might be hurting and your graduate might be waiting for the first nibble for all those resumes he sent out. So, as you shop for a Father's Day or graduation gift, think twice before buying a throwaway tie from Wal-Mart (Stock Quote: WMT).
Tough times call for creative gift giving. Here are some of the best small-business productivity tools for dads and grads coping with a weak economy.
MetroPCS's family cell phone plan: I have been testing the service of the once laughable, Dallas-based cell phone provider, MetroPCS. So far, my service has been clear around New York. I'll give my full review later this summer, after I've roamed around with it. For small businesses and families looking to save money and stay connected, there's no better value.
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The company just rolled out a new family plan that offers text, e-mail and phone service. The phones start at $59 and the service starts at $20, without a contract.
To be sure, MetroPCS is not Verizon Communications (Stock Quote: VZ), nor AT&T (Stock Quote: T) or Sprint Nextel (Stock Quote: S). You won't get anything that resembles an Apple iPhone (Stock Quote: AAPL). You can't use the service outside the coverage area and phone selection is limited.
But the company makes it worth your while. For $150 a month, by my calculation, you can support five lines.
USB car adapter: Without question, the must-get, most helpful, perfect present for an entrepreneurial dad or grad is a USB adapter that plugs into your car. An USB adapter sounds underwhelming, but don't be fooled.
