Hip hop hooray, Easter is right around the corner! With the cost of living rising though, you may be feeling a bit nervous about money leading into Easter. We’re here to tell you it is still possible to celebrate Easter on a budget, so here are a few savings strategies to try.
Make Easter eggs at home
We all know that Easter eggs are usually a tad expensive and don’t seem to go the distance if you’re catering for a number of kids. Instead of spending loads of money buying Easter eggs and chocolate treats, try making your own1. It’s simpler than it sounds! Often, all you need for this budget Easter recipe is a few pantry staples, such as cocoa powder1. You don’t even have to stop at making your own Easter eggs, you could also make your own hot cross buns, chocolate crackles and many other treats.
DIY Easter decorations
If you love going all out with decorations at Easter, there are ways to do this without breaking your budget. Try your hand at DIY this Easter – simply research ideas, such as origami and painting, and you’ll be well on your way to creating budget Easter decorations1. You could also try boiling real eggs and dying them with food colouring or painting them1.
Create your own Easter egg hunt
So, you took our advice and dyed real eggs for your Easter decorations but now you’re not sure what to do with these eggs? Lucky Easter egg hunts are so popular with kids – you can use your egg decorations for this1! Less money spent on chocolate eggs, less sugar for your kids and you saved some money in the process, what more could you ask for? Plus, you could even get crafty and make your own Easter baskets and bonnets1. Embrace your research skills again and find simple crafty activities online to help you out.
Easter long weekend getaway… at home
If you’re wanting to make your Easter long weekend special but heading away isn’t quite in the budget, have a getaway at home instead. Pull out your tent and camping gear or borrow some from a friend or family member if you don’t have any and turn your backyard into a campground for the night2. This way, you’ll save money on accommodation, fuel or flights, and many other expenses that come with travelling2. Plus, you have the benefit of still having access to your kitchen and bathroom so technically you’ll be glamping, right?
Host an Easter potluck lunch or dinner
So, it’s a tradition to have lunch or dinner with family or friends on Easter and you’re the host this year, meaning you’re expected to cater. Well, what better way to host a budget Easter dinner or lunch than by turning it into a potluck so everyone contributes2. This could provide some financial reprieve for everyone and means that you only have to worry about cooking one dish and hosting2.
Try free and low-cost community activities
Seeing as Easter coincides with school holidays (for Queensland at least), you’ll likely be looking for ways to keep the kids entertained, which can sometimes mean spending more money than you intend. To help keep these costs to a minimum, try doing some research on your town council’s website or checking out community groups on social media sites – you’ll likely find a range of free or low-cost activities1. For example, trips to the museum and library are generally free or cost very little, plus, major shopping centres tend to host free craft activities1.
Recycle and reuse Easter decorations
This Easter saving strategy is probably one of the easiest ways to cut costs this year – simply reuse the decorations you purchased last year3. After all, most people reuse their Christmas decorations each year so there’s no shame in doing the same at Easter. To take this Easter budget idea further, you might even like to reuse some of the DIY projects you created over the years3. Don’t forget to keep those DIY projects you create this year for next year!
Create an Easter budget
If you plan to go all out at Easter and need a way to curb your spending, perhaps the best answer for you is to create a budget specifically for Easter3. You could easily research free budget planners or use a template you already have. Just like your regular budget, make sure you account for all your intended Easter expenses, including food, gifts or decorations3. Setting your budget before you start making your Easter purchases is best, so you keep yourself from impulse buying or over-spending3.
General Advice Warning: This information is intended to be general in nature and is not personal financial advice. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information in this article, you should consider the appropriateness of the information provided. In particular, you should seek independent financial advice.
Sources
1Amira Stevenson-Hynes, 2023, How to cut the cost of Easter, Choice, https://www.choice.com.au/money/budget/cost-of-living/articles/how-to-save-money-at-easter
2Sara Borman, 2023, 5 ways to celebrate Easter on a budget, Mozo, https://mozo.com.au/family-finances/5-ways-to-celebrate-easter-on-a-budget
3Australian Lending Centre, 2021, Top 10 budgeting tips this Easter,
https://www.australianlendingcentre.com.au/top-10-budgeting-tips-easter/