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I love Easter. It’s an important celebration in our family, and we include it in our budget every year. You may not think of Easter as being a big spending holiday, but I can assure you there is a reason that retail stores fill their aisles with Easter decor, baskets and candy! From family dinners to Easter baskets to fun activities, Easter can be expensive! You know me, though – I am all about being frugal and sharing my tips to help you do the same! Here is a list of ways to save on Easter so you can make it through the holiday without doing any damage to the family budget.
Save on Easter Dinner
If you are having family or friends over for an Easter dinner this year, you may be feeling a bit of financial anxiety over how much you might spend on this meal. Here are some of the way you can plan to take the pressure off!
Skip the Spiral Cut Ham
While a spiral cut ham is the traditional meal that many families have for Easter, there is no reason why this needs to be the case. Look for turkey breast or even pre-cut ham slices rather than getting the whole ham. Let’s be real – not only is it less expensive, but it’s also easier!
Use Frozen Veggies for Casseroles
It may be tempting to shop for fresh produce, but you’ll find lots of deals on frozen vegetables this week. Grab these as low as $1. These will work just as well in all the favorite casserole recipes.
Make it a Potluck
If you are having an extended family get together, make it potluck style! Share the meal responsibilities by asking everyone to bring a side dish. This is really considered polite in the south, so enjoy the savings, and let them help!
Make Your Own Desserts
It might seem simple, but making your own desserts is always cheaper than buying them! This is also a great week to stock up on baking items.
Save on Easter Baskets
Easter baskets an quickly add up and put a dent in your budget. If you can skip them completely, great. If not, I completely understand! Here are some tips to help you fill those Easter baskets without breaking the bank.
Buy Multipacks and Split Them
If you have multiple kids, buy multipacks and split them up into each basket. This could be larger toys, stickers, bubbles, chalk, etc. Here is a list of Easter basket stuffers with lots of multipacks.
Shop Sales for Candy
Many stores have candy on sale this week! Find lots of Buy One Get One deals at Publix, digital coupon offers at Kroger, and rewards back at Walgreens and CVS. If you’re shopping on Amazon, I recently made a page of Easter candy deals for you!
Chocolate Is More Expensive
Speaking of candy, try to limit the chocolate. Chocolate candy is considerably more expensive than other varieties. Consider getting one or two chocolate items, then fill the rest of the bag with other types of candy.
Reuse Baskets & Plastic Eggs
Rather than getting a new basket that adds to clutter around the house, reuse a basket, box or bag you already have on hand. This goes for plastic eggs as well. You can keep these and reuse them year after year. Simply store them away like you do your Christmas decor.
Fill the Baskets With Things They Need
Instead of buying a bunch of candy or toys that won’t last long, just fill the baskets with items the kids need. Think summer clothes, swimsuits, beach towels, sunglasses, flip-flops. You can find these summer items on sale at plenty of stores right now!
Save on Easter Activities
Like other big holidays, Easter calls for fun kids activities. I encourage you to look for free local events within your community. Many churches will hold egg hunts and offer fun crafts for the kiddos without you having to spend a dime! If you enjoy doing Easter activities at home, here are some tips to help you save on activities.
Dyeing Easter Eggs
With the inflated egg prices, you may choose to forego dyeing eggs altogether. However, if you do plan on dyeing eggs, Google how to “blow out eggs” and see if you are up for the challenge. This process allows you to remove the contents (yolk and white) from the shell, so you can both dye the eggs AND cook with them! If that’s too tricky, at least hard boil them and keep them in the fridge to eat later.
DIY Easter Crafts
You don’t need to spend a lot of money on crafts. There are plenty of DIY Easter craft ideas that use items you probably already have around the house. Be creative or do a quick Google search. Here are some ideas you might enjoy.
Make Your Own Resurrection Eggs
What I love about Resurrection Eggs is that they are perfect for children of all ages. Young children love the sensory experience of it; older children can help read the Scripture verses each day and explain the story to the younger kids. If you reuse plastic eggs from previous years and gather some materials from around the house, you can make your own set of Resurrection Eggs for free!
See all of my favorite Easter ideas.
