In just a few short weeks the Easter Bunny will be hopping down that bunny trail with treats for all the good boys and girls. This doesn’t mean it’s time to go into panic mode though! There’s still time to get your baskets together and looking great for the big day. Although Easter baskets can be a fun way to celebrate the holiday, they can also really add up in price which doesn’t do your budget any favors. With a few tricks you should be able to provide your children with a fun Easter Basket that doesn’t leave you in a bind when it comes to the rest of the holiday. So, get ready to capture some happy smiles, because these tricks will make your baskets the most frugal and fun yet!
1. Recycle Baskets
A lot of families will go out and buy a new Easter basket for their children each year. This can be one of the priciest things you can do, especially when you consider most children will want to hunt eggs until they’re 11 or 12. That’s up to 12 baskets you’ll have spent money on which really adds up in the long run. Rather than shopping for a new one each year try to hold onto one that each child can use year after year. You can spend a little extra on a sturdier basket, or you may even want to go all out and buy a customized one. Of course, you don’t even have to spend a lot of money on one if you don’t want to. For instance, a simple pail or basket from the dollar store can work wonders or you can weave your own. Either way, make the basket suit your child’s personality so it will become part of their holiday memories. They may even want to pass their basket down to their own children in the future!
2. Homemade Treats
When the Easter basket rush begins you may be tempted to buy expensive candy bars and chocolate bunnies to put in your child’s basket. Although this is pretty convenient, it may not be the most frugal way to celebrate the holiday. Rather than spending a lot on candy your children probably get treated with all year, try your hand at making your own holiday treats. For instance, basic sugar cookies can easily be shaped into bunnies and eggs and then decorated with colored icing. You can also make Rice Krispy treats shaped like eggs. These are great because you can fill them with candies and decorate them with colorful icing. If you really love the idea of chocolate bunnies in your child’s basket then simply use a bunny cookie cutter to create your own. All you have to do is whip up your favorite chocolate recipe then pour the mixture into the cookie cutter and let it cool in the refrigerator. When it’s finished you can decorate it to make it personal or simply place it in the basket. There’s a large variety of other treats you can make, but if you’re not feeling creative check online for ideas!
3. Buy Stuff They Need
It’s fairly common to stuff Easter baskets with items kids want, which is fine as long as you set a limit for yourself. However, there is another great option to help cut down on this type of spending. That is, fill the baskets with items the kids are actually going to need! School supplies are always a great buy, so look around and find colorful pencils, pens, notebooks, erasers and other items that seem to be on your must buy list anyway. A lot of stores will offer Easter themed items for school supplies which may add the perfect look for your basket. You may also want to consider personal hygiene items such as a new toothbrush, dental floss, toothpaste and soap. It may be a lot of fun to get creative with the soap by making your own. You can use Easter colors and use a cookie cutter or Easter mold to make it fit the theme. Finally, a pair of cute Easter socks or a new holiday T-shirt will also add a fun touch to your basket.
4. Shop Dollar Stores
When it comes to shopping for Easter you really can’t beat dollar store finds. There’s a lot of options to choose for in these stores and you usually won’t pay over a dollar for each item. One of the best things to buy here is bulk bags of candies. You can find little chocolate eggs and other Easter candies that can be split between your children’s baskets and your Easter eggs, which will cut down on spending. Plastic eggs are another great item to buy here so you’ll have enough eggs to fit in your child’s basket as well as extras for the Easter egg hunt later in the day. Small stuffed animals and other little filler toys and accessories are also great buys here as you can usually find plenty of toys that suit both boys and girls’ interests.
5. Homemade Coupons
One of the most frugal gift ideas is homemade coupons for the children. This will make things even more personal for your kids as you can create them to tailor to your child’s age and interests. For instance, for older children you may add in coupons allowing them 20 minutes extra of videogame or television time. Younger children may enjoy a coupon that ensures they’ll get to go to the park or stay at the park a bit longer than usual. Adding in a coupon that adds a sibling free date with mom and/or dad is another great option, especially if there has been a lot of sibling rivalry in the home lately. Another great choice for all ages is a coupon that promises the child their favorite meal. If you want to make the coupons even more fun than print them out and add an Easter Bunny official seal or use special handwriting to make it look as if the Easter Bunny has written them out just for your child.
6. Forget Easter Grass
Easter treats aren’t the only thing that empties your pockets. One of the worst things to spend your money on during this holiday is Easter Grass. Although it may not seem too expensive at first, once you buy enough to fill up 2 or 3 baskets your budget is going to take a slight hit. The bad thing about Easter grass it is almost impossible to save for the upcoming years. Once the kids make it outside to do their Easter egg hunt the grass slowly begins to disappear. Not to mention, if you have small children or pets then some of the grass may end up in their mouths which could do a lot of harm to the intestinal tract. Even if you don’t have pets, the grass that gets lost outdoors could be consumed by birds or stray animals which leads to even more problems. One solution for the grass is to take colored paper and shred it. This is easier to recycle and won’t end up making anyone sick if it doesn’t stay in your child’s Easter basket the entire day. Of course, if you’re planning a basket for a child that enjoys cheerleading then placing a pompom in the basket adds to the gift and will keep eggs from breaking.
7. Homemade Gifts
Easter basket gifts don’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. In fact, making gifts can actually be one of the best ways to fill your child’s basket. There’s a lot of exciting treats you can make for Easter. One that is great for all ages is homemade play dough. You can even add some color to make it more festive for the holiday. This requires basic ingredients you probably have sitting around the home. To suit the holiday, you can present the play dough into Easter eggs or find a cute Easter canister at your local dollar or thrift store. You may also want to look up recipes for homemade silly putty, bubbles and sidewalk chalk. Other homemade gifts are entertainment sets. For instance, you can buy some items in bulk and put them together to make a cute personalized set for each child. For instance, gardening sets are great for the holidays as are coloring or painting sets. These are all inexpensive to make too, especially if you have a printer than can print coloring sheets out! You may also want to get each child to work on a craft for their sibling. For instance, pet rocks (especially bunnies) are a great option, as are coloring pages with a special message. You can ask the Easter Bunny to pick up the items a week before Easter, so they can be placed in each child’s Easter basket!
8. Thrift Store Finds
You’ll be surprised as to how many amazing toys you can find at your local thrift stores. One of the best items to look for here is children’s books which add a nice touch to your child’s basket. Sometimes you may get lucky enough to find Easter books, but you’ll also be able to locate classic children’s stories. Toys are another great item to find here. Typically, most thrift stores have a bin of old kid’s meal toys that are perfect for fillers for the basket. Some stores may let you pick and choose while others will have the toys in a grab bag. If you’re on the hunt for a cheap Easter basket then this may also be the place to look!
9. Coupons
When it comes to saving for Easter, a coupon is the way to get some of your money back! Usually coupons for Easter will come out a few weeks early so make sure to keep an eye out in your local sales papers as well as online. You may also look for manufacturer’s coupons online if you have specific items you know you’ll need for the holiday. While you’re shopping, keep your eyes open as most stores will place coupons in the aisles or on the Easter treats themselves. These can save you up to a dollar on each item, so don’t miss out! You may also consider using coupons that aren’t Easter related in order to make Easter treats. For instance, a coupon for a plain white cake mix could be the start of a festive recipe at a fraction of the cost of the Easter themed item!
10. Shop Late
In order to make sure you spend less money next year, hit the stores as soon as Easter is over! Everything is going to go into the clearance bin so you can easily stock up. Some of the best items to get during this time are new baskets (if needed) as well as plastic eggs. These items are easy to store and are pretty much needed each and every year. You may also want to look for little toys as they may cost less than a dollar and will make great fillers for the upcoming years. Generally, you should be able to find little Easter bunnies, chicks and eggs in many forms and fashions. Stickers, stamps and other child friendly craft items should be a must have on the list too! Finally, items like cookie cutters and other molds are great to use for Easter projects that may help you fill up your child’s basket.
Creating the perfect Easter basket for your child doesn’t mean you have to go crazy with spending. There’s a lot of ways to enjoy making up your baskets that don’t involve spending too much. With these simple tips you should be well on your way to a basket that will make your child feel spectacular.
