Easter is right around the corner, and you might need to celebrate on a budget. We have ideas to help you get started.
Simple Easter baskets
You can put together a simple and affordable Easter basket by shopping locally, thrifting great finds at Goodwill and The Salvation Army, for example, and searching on Facebook Marketplace. Thrift stores are also a great place to find affordable Easter outfits for children. After Easter, visit your favorite stores and scoop up all the sale items you want for next year.
Coupons
Holidays are a great time to use the coupons and rewards points you have saved up, especially if you are responsible for cooking Easter lunch.
Bulk and share
If you are hosting family, and there are a lot of you, reduce your costs by asking everyone to prepare and bring a dish or two. If you have a smaller family and host, why not have Easter brunch instead of Easter lunch? Scrambled or boiled eggs, bacon, homemade bread, coffee, and orange juice are the perfect solutions. Everyone from children to older members of your family will love it.
Candy
If you are lucky, Valentine's Day candy may still be on sale. Gather up what you can find and make your very own chocolate Easter eggs with molds. You can purchase molds online or at your local hardware store.
Save it for later
Why not save Easter for a week and take advantage of the sales THIS YEAR? It is not a completely crazy idea. Following the pandemic and outbreaks, people have become used to delaying holidays and events when everyone can get together safely.
Exchange experiences
You do not need to spend a fortune on Easter baskets. You can share experiences instead. Why not craft together using whatever supplies you have around the house? Or you could check out the thrift store. There are even secondhand art supply stores in Springfield. Organize an Easter egg hunt, invest in reusable eggs, and keep them for next year and the years after. There are plenty of community events scheduled for Easter weekend across central Illinois. Check out Facebook and the various community calendars for more information.
Preparation is key
The key to a budget-friendly Easter is to plan early. Start your thrift and bargain hunting now. Tell everyone your plans for brunch or lunch and do not forget, when it is all over, shop the sales for Easter 2023.
If you are looking for a way to better track your expenses and budget, check out My Money Manager and our online banking options.