Holidays are one of the most common ways to throw off your budget. The hard truth is that they shouldn’t be. The holidays come around the same time every year and you can prepare for them. You might think, “Oh, my husbands bonus always come around that time. We’ll be fine.” Then, guess what. One year it doesn’t and you don’t have a plan. What do you do? Resort to credit cards to cover the expense… except you can’t because we cut those babies up. Dip into your emergency fund? That takes away from a real emergency. No. You make a plan now with these 5 tips for a debt free Easter and stick too it.
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The cheapest way to fill an Easter basket is with candy because it costs so much less than toys or trinkets. Unfortunately, I hate having that much candy in the house.
The kids get candy for every holiday from the grandparents (3 sets) and on some occasions from the extended family as well. Since my kids only get 1 piece of candy a day, this candy hangs around the house forever.
That’s why I opt for gifts in their baskets instead of candy and still manage to do it for under $50. You can ready more specifically about that at How to Fill 5 Easter Baskets for $50 but right now let’s get on to the rest of the budget tips.
Set a Cash Budget
This is the most important step, first and foremost. Look at your budget for this month and determine what you can reasonably spend on Easter. Include everything that will cost you money.
Need a dish for the family dinner? That goes in the budget.
Need new plastic eggs? They go in the budget. Haha, just kidding. Those things seem to multiply like, well… bunnies.
The point is, anything you will be spending money on should go in the budget.
Use What You Already Have
This is another big one. Don’t go out and buy new baskets for the kids.
If their Easter clothes still fit, they don’t need new ones.
Do you buy rice in bulk? Use that to create a side dish for the family dinner.
When you get creative, you can find 50 ways to save more money.
Looking for an awesome reusable egg hunt option? Check out how to make DIY Easter Bunny Egg Hunt Bags!
Fill Baskets with DIY Projects
Feed your creative side and save money at the same time with DIY projects. I have several easy projects to help you out, just to name a few:
Buy In Sets
This is a great way to save money on basket fillers. Tons of kids toys and treats come in multi-packs.
Use that to your advantage. For little kids, think bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and figurines.
For teens and tweens try multi-packs of ear buds, nail polish, and notebooks.
You can find a lot of this stuff at the dollar store.
Host a Pitch-In
Save money on the big family dinner and host a pitch-in. Everyone brings a dish to share with everyone and you’re responsible for your own drinks.
That keeps the financial burden from falling squarely on one family’s shoulders.
Have a Family Brunch
Instead of a big Easter dinner, have a family brunch. Eggs and waffles feed the same amount of people for a lot less.
You still enjoy the day together with the extended family but everyone is on their own for dinner.
Tip:
- Make the waffles or pancakes in advance. Then freeze them until the big day. When you need to heat them up, simply microwave them in batches. This will save you a ton of time on the day of the brunch.
Make plans now with these 5 tips for a debt free Easter and keep going strong on your financial goals. It is possible to have a wonderful holiday with your family on a tight budget.
Also, a bit of encouragement for when you feel like your money mistakes are cheating your kids: they aren’t going to remember what they got in their Easter baskets 5 or 10 years from now.
They will remember the excitement of the surprise, being with family, and having fun. So don’t stress momma. You’ve got this.
What other ways do you save on Easter? Any fun traditions you have that are unique to your family? Let me know!
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