How to Celebrate Easter 2009 On A Budget

Easter, like most holidays, can be pretty expensive if you aren’t careful. If you don’t believe me just pop into a store to check out the prices of those pre-made Easter baskets. Fortunately, Easter does not have to be expensive. Here are a few tips to keep your Easter spending on a budget.

1 – Skip those expensive pre-made Easter baskets. Sure, it is a heck of a lot easier to buy a basket all wrapped in plastic with loads of goodies but you are paying through the nose for that convenience. And in my experience there is at least one thing in that basket that no one will want.  Instead, make your own goodie-filled basket! Get a cheap basket at a dollar store and fill it yourself.

2 – Skip the expensive individually wrapped mini candies. Instead of filling loads of little plastic eggs with mini candy bars and the like  – go large! You can get a full size candy bar for a lot less than those bags of mini candy bars. Plus the larger ones will look like more. To save even more money, look for those packs of 10 smaller sized bars at the grocery store. I regulary see those for around $1.25 a pack. You could also watch for sales on candy at your local stores.

3 – Instead of filling a basket with a lot of toys and treats, get some of those cheap plastic eggs and use them for an egg hunt/ scavenger hunt that results in one toy for each child. They will have so much fun in the hunt that they won’t even notice that they only got one toy.

4 – Color your easter eggs with items from your kitchen. Instead of spending money on dye, use stuff at home. You’ll save money and it will be safer for your kids and the enviroment.

5 – Re-use those colored eggs! I know a family that keeps the colored eggs in the fridge most of the time and at the end of the day those colored eggs are used as food! You can peel and eat them as hard boiled eggs or make something with hard boiled eggs in it.

6 – Skip the new Easter outfits. When I was growing up my mom always bought me a new outfit on Easter. And it was usually worn only once. Don’t fall into this wasteful trap! If you feel as if you must buy something new for your kids for Easter get something practical and try out a thrift or second-hand store for lower prices.

7 – Have a potluck. If you plan on celebrating Easter with your extended family or friends then why not save money and turn it into a potluck! Just remember that it is cheaper to make food from scratch than to buy something out. So, make something for your Easter potluck!

8 – Have an Easter picnic. If you live where the weather is pretty nice this time of year your family could have an Easter picnic. This is a great way to make the day special, especially if you are not able to provide as many treats or gifts this year.

9 – You don’t have to buy stuff in Easter packaging. If you see something that you want to buy for your kid or someone else for Easter do not be fooled into thinking you have to buy something in Easter packaging. You will notice a special Easter candy aisle at your local stores but you can buy candy from the regular aisle if you like. And it is likely going to be cheaper over there!