How to Celebrate Easter on a Budget

Easter can be one of those sneaky holidays. It seems innocent and simple until you check your wallet and find the Easter bunny stole more than he left. Stick to the basics and place more emphasis on the real spirit of Easter and you'll save money, time and the quality of the holiday.

First, take time as a family to think about the reasons different cultures celebrate Easter. Discuss traditions in other cultures and the symbolism behind common Easter decorations. Just talking about the holiday is a great way to teach your kids about other cultures as well as celebrate without spending any money.

Easter was not traditionally a gift-giving holiday. Instead, it was to celebrate the Christian religion's belief that their savior had a miraculous resurrection after his death and saved their souls from sin. If you are Christian, talk to your children about what this gift represents and how the Easter celebration should be respectful of the spiritual heritage.

Keep Easter baskets simple. Don't feel you have to buy big or expensive gifts just because good advertising and marketing make that seem appropriate. Instead of choosing lots of flashy toys, which your children will forget about in a few days, choose one new item. Add a few pieces of candy and fillers like stickers or themed school supplies. If you have made a habit of giving big Easter presents, your kids may complain a little at first. But making it your family's tradition to have a simpler celebration will eventually become part of their normal view.

Do not buy new Easter decorations. Most holiday decorations are just a waste of money and they get thrown away every year. Instead, make it your family's tradition to do one or two nice craft projects each Easter. Budgeting a few craft materials for something that will be a great keepsake makes more sense than spending money on cheap, disposable decorations. For example, make an Easter wreath with your daughter out of grapevines, plastic flowers and painted wood cut-outs. Or use cloth scraps to make unique Easter wall-hangings. These will become fond memories in your child's mind when they think of Easter.

If you really want to purchase some quality decorations, like a themed Easter wreath, purchase them after the holiday is over. Choose decorations that will last for many years and never pay full price. You can also stock up on plastic Easter eggs at after-holiday sales to use the next year in egg hunts.

Refrain from overdoing flowers and food. Set a specific budget based on what your family can realistically spend. Everyone has had to cut out unnecessary items in today's economy. Blowing your budget on expensive floral arrangements, potted bulbs or a big Easter dinner will seem silly when those bills come due in two weeks. Instead, pick wildflowers and spring flowers for the centerpieces. If you do not have a lot of daffodils, tulips or jonquils, feel free to ask people who have yards full of these spring flowers. Usually, they will not mind letting you and your children pick a few bouquets before Easter.

Take another look at your Easter menu. Decide what food items are traditions that you don't want to break, which ones can be cooked on a smaller budget, and which ones are too expensive to keep. You may want to do a simpler chicken and dressing instead of a full turkey. Or make one or two desserts instead of an entire table of expensive cakes and pastries. Ask family members who are attending Easter dinner to help by bringing napkins, disposable plates or cups, ice, drinks, or other items.

Skip the Easter candy. One package of your child's favorite is fine, but Easter has become like Halloween on the candy front. This wastes your money, blows your budget and isn't healthy for anyone in the house. Place a few favorite pieces of candy on your child's Easter basket. Use more healthy, home-made treats to celebrate the holiday. Easter is a spring holiday, so use the opportunity to make fresh fruits and vegetables part of the celebration.

Many families have a tradition of buying a new outfit to wear on Easter Sunday. Unfortunately, this outfit always seems to be bright and floral and inappropriate after spring. Either skip this budget busting tradition or find a more modest way to celebrate it. Maybe the guys can get one new dress shirt, from the sale rack, and the ladies can get a top and skirt set. These pieces can be worked into your existing wardrobe throughout the spring and summer, but still appear new for Easter photos. Remember, no one actually cares if you show up at church in a new dress except you.

Skip the store-bought Easter eggs dyes and use materials around the house instead. The dye kits are not really that expensive, but every little added expense can really test an already trim budget. Use food coloring or paint to color hardboiled eggs instead. Then re-use the eggs for salads and sandwiches and distribute the eggshells in your garden to get the most bang for your Easter buck.