Passover begins in just a couple of weeks, so if you’re trying to plan out your Passover celebration then you might want to start. Passover doesn’t have to be a huge burden on your budget though, so don’t stress it too much if you are not ready to host a big gathering. There are several things you can do to reduce the burden while allowing yourself to have fun and enjoy the holiday. You might even find some tips that you will want to utilize year after year, so you don’t have to worry about spending too much in the future.
1. Know Your Budget
Before you even begin planning for your Passover celebration, you need to set your budget. This budget needs to include all eight days of the holiday, so make sure you are calculating like you would your weekly food budget. This will allow you to feel more comfortable with planning the holiday to begin with. Once you have your budget worked out, shop around to see which foods will fit into the budget. When you find items that will help you stick to your budget then start your shopping process. This should allow you to come in under budget if you shop carefully, so you will have extra money to spend on things that may have been forgotten.
2. Reuse Ingredients
Another way to cut down on the costs of Passover is to reuse ingredients for as many meals as you can. You should start by choosing items that allow you to reuse some of the same items. This will help improve the way you shop, as you will be able to purchase in bulk. Of course, this won’t always be an option as some meals will require specific ingredients. If you can cut the special options to a minimum, then it will definitely help you to save big. You might also consider reusing leftovers for meals. If this isn’t an option, then serve your leftovers for lunches.
3. Work from Scratch
Purchasing canned goods, boxes, and premade items may make it easier to get your meal on the table in a timely manner. However, this isn’t always the best way to suit your budget. Instead of going for the boxed items, you might try working from scratch. Most items will actually come out cheaper this way and the food will come out tasting better and healthier. You can find budget-friendly recipes for almost everything if you do a little research.
4. Ask for Help
There is never any harm in asking for help with your meal, especially if you are providing the food for guests. Instead of taking on the entire budget and time commitment by yourself, ask your guests to bring a dish or two to help make the meal more complete. This will not only take some of the burdens off of you, but it will also help you to make the meal more exciting. This is especially true if certain family members have specialty dishes that they typically share with the family.
5. Work from the Garden
If you enjoy fresh food and your meals tend to be heavy on produce, then one of the best things you can do is work from your garden. Growing your own food can help take down your grocery bill substantially no matter what holiday you’re celebrating. If you don’t have a garden, there is still time to plant some produce; however, other items will have to be planned for next year. You can base your menu around the items you grow as well, which can definitely help you to create delicious meals that won’t fail to please on a tight budget.
6. Make Your Own Matzah
Matzah plays a big role in Passover meals, but it can really add up if you end up paying for premade matzah for their entire family to have for eight days straight. Matzah isn’t expensive to make and doesn’t take a whole lot of work either. So, creating it on your own should help you to save a whole lot of money when it comes to your meal planning. The best thing about matzah is you can give it to family members for a snack or as an add-on for lunch, so you won’t have to spend even more money on food during the holiday period.
7. Always Coupon
When it comes to picking up groceries for your Passover meals, you should always check out the coupons that you have. This can help you maximize the amount of money you save on the products you need. You don’t have to wait until you get an ad from your local grocery store to find coupons either. Rather, you can look for coupons on the grocery store’s website or app. You can also find coupons on the manufacturer’s websites and apps, which will allow you to maximize your savings. If you can plan your shopping trip at just the right time, you may even be able to double up on coupons.
8. Dinner Table Games
Keeping everyone occupied during the meal can also play a big role in your holiday experience. You don’t have to go to any great lengths to come up with games either, as there are so many free gamesthat you can play. When the conversation begins to die down, simply toss in some trivia questions to add to the fun. You can also enjoy games like bingo and other similar games. If you’re not sure where to start with your games, there are lots of great game ideas online to help you choose the right options for your Passover gathering.
9. Passover Crafts
There are lots of great crafts that you can get into to help keep everyone entertained before, after, or even during the meal. Kids might want to make crafts based on the story of Passover. They can decorate cups with symbols of the holiday and so on. If you want to keep kids busy during the meal consider creating tablemats with fun things for kids to do during meals. There are many craft ideas online so you can choose items that interest you or that cater to the craft items that you already have on hand. There are also many coloring pages that can be utilized to help keep kids entertained.
10. Stories
When it comes to holidays, stories are one of the best ways to pass the time. There are so many stories to share during Passover that people will probably be talking for hours on end. One place to start is the actual story behind the holiday. This is a great way to engage and teach children. Apart from the story of the actual holiday, you might consider sharing stories of holidays from the past. You might also discuss stories of family history. This is a great time to pass on legacies while allowing younger members of the family to learn precisely where they came from.
Passover doesn’t have to be a pricey holiday, nor does it mean you have to make the holiday bland. These ten tips will allow you to easily have the fun you desire while enjoying the holiday with your family and friends without the added stress. This should help you to truly embrace the meaning of the holiday while creating memories filled with joy.
