40 Smart Ways to Celebrate Easter on a Budget (Seriously!)

Looking to celebrate Easter in style without draining your wallet?

I feel you.

Putting some clever twists on tradition can make or break pulling that off.

From smart swaps to frugal DIYs, this guide unpacks the secrets to enjoying the spirit of the season without having to take a 2nd mortgage on your house.

Ready to find out the secrets to relaxing and enjoying the holiday instead of pulling your hair out over expenses.

Let’s hop to it!

Key Takeaways

• Celebrate Easter on the cheap by planning ahead and being creative.
• Save money by using supplies already at home to decorate Easter eggs – no need for expensive kits! Things like food coloring, markers, stickers, or natural dyes work great.
• Reuse and upcycle wherever possible – plastic eggs, baskets, decorations, etc. Check thrift stores for Easter bargains too.
• Fill plastic eggs and baskets with inexpensive items like stickers, small toys from dollar stores, homemade coupons, or treats you bake yourself. Shop sales for candy after other holidays have passed.
• Brunch it up (much cheaper) or organize potlucks. Ask guests to bring baskets or dishes to share the costs and workload.
• Forget pricy 4 coures meals and brunch it up instead. Simple dishes like egg casseroles and pancakes keep the holiday cheer without overdoing it budget-wise.
• Create your own free or low-cost Easter traditions that mean something to you and your family.
• Stick to your financial goals and priorities to avoid overspending on Easter.

Cheap Easter Egg Hunts

Easter egg hunts are super fun traditions, but they can totally drain your wallet fast. Luckily, there’s tons of ways to throw an exciting egg hunt that won’t break the bank.

1. Decorate Eggs Using Supplies Around the House

Decorate eggs for less using art supplies you already have at home instead of splurging on fancy decorating kits. Markers, food coloring, stickers…get creative!

Actually, here’s a post on how to dye Easter eggs without a Kit – and the recipe doesn’t call for anything crazy – just simple items around the house.

2. Reuse or Upcycle Easter Baskets

Reuse baskets from last year or grab cheap alternative containers like buckets from the dollar store. Add ribbons and bows for a cute new look.

3. Use Affordable Fillers for the Easter Eggs

Say it with me. The Dollar Store is my friend – because it is. It is!

Skip expensive candy eggs – fill plastic eggs with fun low-cost items like stickers, tattoos, or homemade coupons instead.

If you’ve never used homemade coupons, you might be thinking “Huh?”, so let me give you a few examples of what you could use as a coupon:

• Clean your room for you
• Do your chores for a day
• Special dessert just for you
• Walk the dog for a week
• One free back rub
• Be your servant for an hour
• Cook your favorite meal
• Help make breakfast in bed
• Water the plants for two weeks
• Have a spa day together

5. Reuse Plastic Eggs

Don’t buy new plastic eggs yearly – reuse and swap ’em with friends to mix things up.

Give your stash of eggs a good sanitize (wipe ’em down wth alcohol wipes) before storing for next Easter.

“My nieces, nephews…heck, even my own child prefered scavenger hunts over regular egg hunts. There’s something about solving riddles and finding clues to lead to a treasure that really gets them going. ” – Aquita, Fun Party Tips

Action	How It Saves Money	Pros	Cons
Decorate eggs with supplies at home	Avoid buying decorating kits	Creative, unique designs	Takes more time/effort
Reuse/repurpose baskets	Don’t have to buy new baskets yearly	Saves money, eco-friendly	Can look old/worn
Fill eggs with non-candy	Skip expensive candy fillers	Healthier, cheaper options	Kids may expect candy
Reuse plastic eggs	Don’t purchase new eggs every year	Significant cost savings over time	Eggs may degrade/break eventually
Have an Easter scavenger egg hunt	Requires fewer eggs overall	Provides interactive fun	More effort to organize

Budget Friendly Easter Baskets

Easter baskets can seriously drain your account fast. But with some savvy shopping and creativity, you can make budget-friendly ones that still feel special. Here’s some tips to get you started:

6. Buy Candy the Day After Christmas and Valentine’s Day

Buy candy day after Christmas or Valentine’s Day when it’s CRAZY discounted to stock up for Easter. Easy way to save some bucks.

7. Shop at Thrift and Dollar Stores

Hit up thrift and dollar stores for all kinds of cute basket materials for less – baskets themselves, plastic grass, bows and ribbons, the works

8. DIY the Baskets

DIY unique baskets by repurposing shoeboxes or decorating paper lunch sacks if you don’t have actual wicker ones.

Get the kids involved for personalized touches. This is when you can whip out a Cricut (if you know how to use one) and get creative.

9. Upcycle Baskets from Last Year

Don’t toss old baskets. Spruce them up with spray paint, ribbons, and get ’em looking good again.  Here’s some suggestions for sprucing up old baskets for reuse:

• Add new lining: Sew or hot glue colorful fabric, rickrack trim, or ribbons onto the inside of the basket.
• Embellish with bows: Pretty up baskets by tying or gluing new bows, raffia, blooming flowers, or flowers on the handles.
• Paint or decoupage: Give worn baskets new life by painting them in pastel hues or decoupaging decorative papers onto the exterior.
• Replace grass: Freshen up old basket grass by stuffing full with new plastic Easter grass, wood excelsior, or shreds of pastel tissue paper.

10. BYOB (Bring Your Own Basket)

If you’re hosting an egg hunt or party, consider asking guests to bring their own baskets. This way, everyone can contribute to the festivities, and you won’t have to shoulder the entire cost of the baskets.

11. Set a Spending Limit and Stick to It

Before you start shopping for basket items, set a spending limit and stick to it. This will help you stay within your budget and avoid overspending on unnecessary items.

• Research prices ahead: Check prices online for idea amounts for specific treats or products you want to include so your limits are realistic.
• Allow for some wiggle room: Pad your limit a little so if you go slightly over on one item, you have room to adjust other items.
• Track spending: Keep a running tally on your phone or notepad of approximate amounts spent in each category as you shop and choose less pricey options if needed.

“Set a reminder on your phone. I use Google Calendar. Just look up the dates for the day (or two) after big holidays like Easter and Christmas and send future you a reminder to go get that cheap candy and trinkets while you can. Then set it aside for next year. Works like a charm! “ – Aquita, Fun Party Tips

12. Realize That ANYTHING can Be Used as an Easter Basket (Find Alternatives)

Get creative and think outside the box when it comes to Easter baskets. Almost anything can be used as a container, from buckets to flower pots to beach totes.

Look around your home and repurpose items you already have to create unique and budget-friendly alternatives to traditional baskets.  Here’s some ideas:

• Gardening Pail: Fill a cute gardening pail with gardening tools and packets of seeds for spring planting. Add a pair of gloves, a garden spade, and some chocolate (or real?) carrots.
• Picnic Basket: Stuff a little picnic basket with snacks and treats like peanut butter eggs, jelly beans, chocolate bunnies, pretzels, and juice boxes. Throw in some plastic eggs and fake grass too if you want.
• Sand Bucket: A colorful child’s sand pail makes for a perfect Easter gift holder. Fill it with play sand and bury puzzles, coloring books, crayons, and other activities inside.
• Backpack: Stuff a kid-sized backpack with Easter surprise eggs containing stickers, erasers, coins and other small prizes. Include an Easter-themed storybook, sunglasses and a spring-y hairclip too.
• Purse: For kids who like dress up, fill a play purse with lip gloss rings, costume jewelry, hair ties, notepads and fun pens and pencils. Add in a Easter stuffed animal that just fits inside.

13. Make Homemade Treats for the Basket

Instead of buying pre-packaged treats, consider making homemade goodies. This’ll save you money and but it’ll also add a personal touch and show everyone that you put thought and effort into their gifts.

• Consider dietary restrictions: Make sure you know if anyone has food allergies or is vegan/vegetarian so you can accommodate them.
• Make an assortment: Cookies, small muffins, granola bars, etc. A variety of tasty treats adds to the gift.
• Use quality ingredients: Splurge on some fancy chocolate, nuts, dried fruit – it elevates the homemade treats.
• Wrap attractively: Use colored cellophane, ribbons, and include a nice tag so each treat looks inviting.
• Include storage notes: Add a little note about whether the item needs refrigeration and how soon you should eat it?

14. Skip It Altogether

If you’re really trying to cut back on expenses or want to focus on other aspects of Easter, consider skipping the traditional baskets altogether.

Put the cash you would’ve spent on baskets towards other activities or gifts, or put it into savings for future use.

15. Shop the Post Holiday Sales (Gotta Think Ahead)

Take advantage of post-holiday sales and stock up on items for next year. This includes baskets, grass, decorations, and even non-perishable treats.

Thinking ahead, shop the sales, and you’ll save money in the long run.

Idea	Pros	Cons	Tips
6. Buy discounted candy after holidays	Saves money	Need storage space; less selection	Shop day after Christmas, Valentine’s Day
7. Shop thrift & dollar stores	Very inexpensive	Less variety; lower quality	Check Facebook groups too for deals
8. DIY baskets	Personalized; fun activity	Time-consuming; creativity needed	Involve kids; use Cricut for decor
9. Upcycle and reuse old baskets	Saves money; reduces waste	Need supplies/creativity to spruce up	Add fabric, paint, bows to update
10. BYOB (guests bring baskets)	Saves money for host	Less cohesive look	Ask guests to contribute baskets
11. Set & stick to spending limit	Helps avoid overspending	Need flexibility if go over	Research prices first; allow wiggle room
12. Repurpose household items	Very inexpensive; unique	Creativity/hunting needed	See ideas for gardening pail, picnic basket etc
13. Make homemade treats	Personalized; likely cheaper	Time-consuming; dietary restrictions	Check for allergies; splurge on some items
14. Skip baskets entirely	Saves money	Break tradition	Put $ towards other gifts/activities
15. Shop post-holiday sales	Saves money long-term	Need storage space	Stock up after Easter when on sale

Easter Dinner Ideas on a Budget

Easter dinner is often a highlight of the holiday, but it can also be a budget-buster. Luckily, there’s plenty of ways to have a delicious dinner without breaking the bank.

Here’s some budget-friendly ideas to help you create a memorable and affordable meal during the holiday:

16. Throw a Potluck

Instead of shouldering the entire cost of the meal yourself, consider throwing a potluck and asking your guests to bring a dish to share. This way, everyone gets to contribute, and the expense is spread out among everyone attending.

• Create a sign-up sheet: Create a document that guests can add their name and the dish they plan to bring to avoid duplicate dishes.
• Provide needed servingware: Make sure to have enough plates, utensils, cups, etc. for all the different dishes guests will contribute.
• Accommodate dietary needs: When requesting dishes, ask guests to be mindful of any food allergies or dietary restrictions within the group. Provide options so all guests can enjoy the meal.

“You can bless someone with an Easter gift of preparing their favorite stew, dessert, or crockpot dish.  Remember that a holiday doesn’t need to be drudgery.  You just have to reframe your mind on how you view it. And honestly, if you want an Easy Easter, get other folks to help with the work.” – Aquita, Fun Party Tips

17. Go Meatless or Go Very, Very Light on the Meat

Meat can be one of the most expensive parties of a holiday meal (uh, hello holiday ham?).

To save money, consider going meatless or opting for light meat options. Using more veggie-friendly options will definitely save you money.

18. Do Easter Tapas Instead of Doing a Full Course Meal

Here’s a fun way to jazz up the usual menu that I’ve tried myself – go for a DIY tapas bar!  In case you didn’t know, tapas are small plates or appetizers in Spanish culture.  But, for this, you can put your own unique Easter spin on it.

Rather than a sit-down meal, set out small yummy appetizers that guests can graze on.

Serve up deviled eggs, baked cheese (maybe some Brie?), apple tarts, roasted carrot hummus cups, little fried sausages, stuffed mushrooms – you get the picture.

The variety lets people sample different flavors and mingle more too.

19. Shop the Post Holiday Sales (Gotta Think Ahead)

After Easter is over, take advantage of post-holiday sales and stock up on items for next year.

This includes baskets, grass, decorations, and even non-perishable treats. By thinking ahead and shopping the sales, you can save money in the long run.

20. Use Coupons and Check Weekly Specials

Before heading to the grocery store, search for coupons or check the store’s weekly specials.

Using coupons can help you save money on ingredients for your Easter dinner.

Don’t forget to also use any digital coupons that might be available through store apps or websites.

21. Avoid Online Grocery Shopping

Shopping for groceries in-store allows you to compare prices and take advantage of any in-store specials or markdowns.

Online grocery shopping may be convenient, but it’s harder to hunt for deals and discounts.

Plus, convenience fees are often charged to use online shopping services (Boo!).

22. Go Generic

Going the store-brand, generic route instead of splurging on name brands can be a smart move.

Often the store versions are just repackaged with their own labeling, but the products themselves are nearly identical quality. And you get the bonus of keeping more change in your wallet.

“Full disclosure.  Some things I only buy that are name brand.  Because over the years, I’ve found that the generic brand taste doesn’t quite compare.  For me, this is usally stuff like olive oil and balsamic vingear.  If you test this out, you’ll figure out what ingredients you can compromise on – and which ones you can’t. “ – Aquita, Fun Party Tips

23. Have Easter Breakfast for Dinner or Easter Brunch to Save Money

All those breakfast and brunch staples like eggs, pancakes, baked french toast, or lighter sides tend to use budget-friendly ingredients anyway.

Overall, the cost savings can be significant over a full fancy dinner. Plus, dishes from morning meals often have that comfort food vibe. And who couldn’t use some cozy vibes on a spring holiday with friends and family?

24. Shop the Grocery Store Sales

Is butter or cream on mega-sale this week? Rethink your menu to add those in. Then build dishes around what retailers are specially discounting for the holiday.

It just takes some planning ahead to scoop up the bargains so you can splurge a little on special touches that really make your celebration pop.

25. Don’t Cook Too Much (Keep It Simple)

It’s so easy to get caught up in elaborate menu visions, only to realize you prepped way more fancy dishes than needed.

Aiming to keep things simple is smart – focus on making one showstopper Easter entree (if you want to go that route) along with some basic sides and apps.

Survey the family on what traditional must-haves top their holiday wish list (if you want to) and build around a few key components rather than trying to recreate an entire restaurant-worthy buffet.

26. Shop Your Pantry (If You Have It, Make It, If You Don’t, Then Don’t)

Taking inventory of what non-perishables you already have on hand means you can plan recipes to use up those items. No sense letting that random can of artichoke hearts or bag of quinoa expire while you go buy more stuff.

Dig around for forgotten specialty ingredients bought for past recipes too – maybe that pricey bottle of balsamic glaze or vanilla paste can finally have its moment to shine in a new dish. Using what you have ultimately cuts down wasted food and cash.

Idea	Pros	Cons	Tips
16. Throw a Potluck	Saves money on ingredients; guests contribute	Less control over menu; need coordination	Ask guests to sign up for a dish; provide main dish yourself
17. Go meatless or limit meat	Saves money; more healthy	Less traditional; need alternate protein source	Use more veggies, beans, eggs instead
18. Do DIY tapas bar	Fun; guests mingle more; variety of flavors	More prep work; need finger foods	Make small bites; use skewers/spoons; no knives & forks
19. Shop post-holiday sales	Save money long-term	Requires planning ahead	Stock up on baskets, grass, decor after holiday
22. Buy generic brands	Saves money	Quality sometimes worse	Test generics first; only buy name brands when needed
23. Have brunch instead of dinner	Uses budget ingredients like eggs & pancakes; cozy vibe	Less formal	Focus on breakfast/brunch classics
24. Shop grocery sales	Saves money	Need flexibility in menu	Plan dishes around what’s on sale that week
25. Keep menu simple	Less waste; less expensive	Less variety	Focus on 1 showstopper dish + basic sides; survey must-haves
26. Shop your pantry	Saves money; uses what you have	Limited choices	Get creative with what’s already on hand

Here’s your options. Which one will work best for you and your family?

Start Your Own Free (or Freeish) Easter Traditions

Between all the candy, egg hunts, bunny gifts and fancy meals, it’s easy to bust your holiday budget in no time.

But who says you can’t start some fresh annual rituals with your crew that focus more on making memories than shelling out mad cash?

27. Do an Egg Toss

One cheap and cheerful activity is getting the whole gang together for a good ole egg toss contest out in the yard. 

Mark off tossing distances and see what team can send their egg sailing back and forth the farthest before ending with a splat.

28. Play Easter Minute to Win It Games

Get those competitive juices flowing by hosting a round robin Easter edition of Minute to Win It party games.  Here’s a few game ideas you could try:

• Marshmallow Chick Cheek Stash: See how many marshmallow chicks you can stuff in your mouth at once
• Jelly Bean Spoon Race: Balance jelly beans on a spoon while racing to finish line the fastest
• Golden Egg Tower Stack: Stack as many plastic Egg halves as possible in one minute
• Cotton Tail Relay: Race while holding a cotton ball bunny tail between your knees
• Egg Balancing Contest: See who can balance a hard boiled Easter egg on their head longest without it falling

29. Egg and Spoon Race

A tried and true classic like an egg and spoon race never disappoints either. Mark off a backyard dash course and players pairs face off balancing an egg steady on a spoon while scramble-running – trying not to drop the egg.

30. Organize an Easter Party for Baking-Cooking Exchange

Why not fire up those ovens for an Easter baked goods swap with your besties?

Ask everyone to bake their signature carrot cake, banana pudding or deviled eggs to share.

Tasting all the creations while you chit chat is entertainment enough without blowing money.  

31. Make Easter Bunny Slime

Keep kids happy for hours by letting them concoct magical Easter slime from basic kitchen ingredients like glue, starch and food coloring. Cheap, easy, and fun.

32. Go to an Easter Parade

Community events like parades are always awesome, family fun.  Find one in your area and go – and bring extra bags for the F-R-E-E candy that gets tossed out.  

33. Have a Movie Marathon Night

Nothing beats a snuggly movie night on the sofa with friends and family. Easter break gives you that perfect excuse to queue up a marathon of nostalgic childhood faves and new flicks. Whip out extra pillows and blankets for a mega fort and you’re good to go.

34. Volunteer at a Local Shelter

Giving back together as a family is so rewarding – it really puts life’s blessings in perspective. And shelters often need extra helpers prepping for Easter.

35. Camp in Your Backyard Over the Long Weekend

Camping out at home let’s you score major family bonding points without blowing the vacation budget on some elaborate trip.

Toast s’mores by the firepit, sing silly trail songs to your heart’s content. Let the kiddos pack their own mini gear in custom backpacks to get them excited.

36. Go to a Local Farm

Nothing says “spring is here” like visiting a local farm filled with fuzzy baby animals and fields of fresh flowers.

Most have super fun, budget-friendly activities too – scavenger egg hunts, DIY craft stations, “unicorn” meet-and-greets.

37. Attend a Church Service

Go to a church service to celebrate the religious significance of Easter. It’s a meaningful way to connect with your faith and be part of a community.  And it doesn’t cost you a penny.

“When it comes to Easter, you’ll find it works best to give your kids a heads up you’re going more low key on gifts early. Instead, you’ll focus on making memories together doing crafts or cooking yummy treats to share. Sure they may grumble at first when they realize this isn’t going to mean a basket full of new toys. But when you involve them in planning fun activities you can do as a family, it helps get them excited again.” – Aquita, Fun Party Tips

38. Do Easter Crafts

Now crafts aren’t exactly my jam. Between the epic glue sticker residue and glitter that haunts my home for eternity no matter how many times I Swiffer, it’s a hard pass.

But even I can get down with some simple, no fuss Easter crafting seshs that spark nostalgia without added vacuum trauma.  In past holidays, I’ve enjoyed making paper bunny crafts and easter string eggs

39. Do an Easter Photoshoot

Dust off those church clothes, fancy hats and shiny shoes. Hand out jello-colored baskets brimming with plastic grass and get your posed egg hunt on.

No need to hire a professional photographer and sink money into getting the “perfect” images.

Just snapping candids with your phone or having a crafty friend help out keeps the spirit light. Then get creative editing in fun stickers and gifs if you feel the mood.

40. Do an Egg and Spoon Race

Hosting an old school egg spoon sprint stirs up the best kind of playful competition. Just line up teams for a wobbly race balancing eggs on spoons. 

Stick to Your Guns (If You Can’t Afford to Splurge, Then Don’t)

Listen, I get the urge to go overboard celebrating Easter. With all those brunch invites and egg hunt extras, it’s like retailers plot to drain our wallets dry.

But all that isn’t what makes the holiday meaningful at heart. What we’ll remember and cherish for years are the belly laughs shared with our people that fill our love tanks up.

Trust me, by sticking to affordable traditions that fill you up instead of chasing Pinterest perfection, you’ll feel so much freer and your people will, too.

Here’s 5 funny, light-hearted affirmations to help you to avoid overspending on Easter:

• I am a savvy spender hunting for the best bargains – not blowing all my money on Peeps!
• My bank account thanks me for not going ham on the Easter ham budget.
• I’ve got this in the basket – no need to splurge on seasonal shaped candy I’ll just eat too quickly anyway.
• Eggs-pensive purchases will not rule me! I dictate my savings-focused terms.
• I hop right past excessive spending to smartly celebrate in budget-conscious bunny style! wiggle nose and ears

Now, It’s Your Turn

Time to start putting those money-saving Easter ideas from our toolkit into action.

What frugal fun will make your family smile…a candy egg hunt with discounted post-holiday treats or a decorate-your-own egg contest with food coloring?

Let me know in the comments below.