How to Do Easter Without Going Broke (Or Losing Your Mind)
Easter was once about simple joys like egg hunts and candy but has somehow been hijacked by influencers who think we need pastel aesthetic photo shoots, $80 embroidered bunny pajamas, and themed tablescapes that look like they belong in a staged home that no actual child has ever stepped foot in.
But Easter does not have to be expensive, exhausting, or Instagram-worthy. Your kids don’t care if their baskets look like something straight out of Pottery Barn’s overpriced spring collection. The whole ‘bigger, better, more expensive’ approach to parenting is exhausting. Your kids need connection, not extravagance. Embracing minimalism in parenting can save your sanity and your wallet.
In this article:
Easter Baskets on a Budget (That Your Kids Will Actually Like)
Age-Specific Easter Basket Ideas & Low-Cost Alternatives to Candy
Cheap & Easy Spring Crafts (Because Your Kids Just Want to Make a Mess Anyway)
Resisting the Spring Money Grab
Free or Low-Cost Community Easter Events
Keep It Simple, Keep Your Money
Easter Baskets on a Budget (That Your Kids Will Actually Like)
If you’re feeling like you have to go all out for Easter because of The Ridiculous Pressure of Baby’s First Holiday, take a deep breath and step back—You don’t have to make every first holiday picture-perfect. Trust me, I’ve been there.
Here’s how to do an Easter basket without selling your soul to Target’s seasonal aisle:
Skip the Fancy Baskets – Monogrammed Easter baskets? Cute, sure. Necessary? Absolutely not. Use a cheap basket, a sand pail, a tote bag, or literally anything that can hold candy. Your kid will not care.
Ditch the Pre-Made Baskets – Those overpriced pre-made baskets at the store are 70% filler, 10% generic toys, and 20% disappointment. Build your own with dollar-store finds, clearance toys, or snacks your kids actually like.
Keep It Small – A few pieces of candy, a small toy (think bubbles, chalk, stickers), and maybe a book or coloring set. That’s it. This is not Christmas.
Shop Smart – Thrift stores, clearance sections, and even buy-nothing groups on Facebook are your best friends. And if you plan, you can grab Easter goodies for 75% off the day after Easter for next year. (That’s how the real pros do it.)
Your kid is not going to be emotionally scarred because their Easter basket didn’t match their outfit and the decorations. They will, however, be thrilled to get a sugar rush and maybe a new pack of stickers.
Age-Specific Easter Basket Ideas & Low-Cost Alternatives to Candy
Here are some cheap budget-friendly basket ideas by age:
Toddlers – Bubbles, board books, bath toys, sidewalk chalk
Preschoolers – Play-Doh, mini puzzles, crayons, coloring books
Elementary Kids – Trading cards, small action figures, joke books, stickers
Some candy alternatives to cut back on sugar include temporary tattoos, glow sticks, mini fidget toys, and hair accessories.
Baby’s First Easter
A little different from the picture-perfect versions floating around social media. No themed baskets overflowing with stuff he wouldn’t care about, no pastel explosion of decorations, and no matching family outfits.
Just a $6 outfit from Bargain Hunt, a wind-up chick for entertainment, and a baby who had no idea it was a holiday.
Cheap & Easy Spring Crafts (Because Your Kids Just Want to Make a Mess Anyway)
Crafting with kids should be simple, fun, and, most importantly, cheap. Bonus points if the end results double as Easter decor! Instead of spending money on decorations that will be shoved in a bin for 11 months, let your kids create something festive that you can proudly (or at least tolerantly) display.
Here are a few easy ones that won’t make you want to rip your hair out:
Toilet Paper Roll Bunnies – Glue some paper ears on an empty toilet paper roll, draw a face, and boom: Easter bunny.
Egg Carton Chicks – Cut up an egg carton, paint it yellow, glue on some googly eyes, and pretend you spent more than five minutes on it.
Paper Plate Nests – Have your kids color or paint a paper plate brown, glue some shredded paper on it, and toss in a few jelly beans. Instant Easter decor.
Handprint Carrots – Trace your kid’s hand, color it orange, add a green top. Congratulations, you have a keepsake.
Printable Easter Coloring Pages – Save money on craft supplies by printing free Easter-themed coloring pages. Let the kids color and tape them up as homemade holiday decorations.
None of these crafts will be museum-worthy, and that’s the point. Your kids just want to cut, glue, and smear paint everywhere. Let them enjoy it without feeling like you need to spend $40 on a craft kit that will end up in the trash within a week.
Resisting the Spring Money Grab
Before you spend hours curating the ‘perfect’ Easter photo, ask yourself: Are you doing it for the memories or for the likes? Is this actually necessary, or is it just something social media made you think you need? Here are a few common traps to avoid:
Spring Decorations – Your kids do not need a house that looks like an explosion of pastel florals. If you want to decorate, grab a $5 bouquet from the grocery store and call it a day. Or, if you’re feeling crafty, check out these DIY Easter decorations on a budget from Good Housekeeping.
Expensive Easter Outfits – They will wear it once before they outgrow it or stain it with chocolate. Buy secondhand, borrow from a friend, or just let them wear something they already own.
Elaborate Easter Dinners – Unless you want to cook a five-course meal, keep it simple. My family does Easter brunch with a light buffet-style meal. Make what you were already planning to make, throw in some deviled eggs, and call it festive.
Influencers (and the companies they shill for) want you to believe Easter and springtime require a complete home makeover, an entirely new wardrobe, and a themed brunch. You do not need to fall for this nonsense. There’s 11 Reasons Why Their Life Looks Perfect (But Probably Isn’t); most people’s Easter do not look like a pastel-hued dream.
Free or Low-Cost Community Easter Events
Check your local parks, libraries, and churches for free Easter egg hunts and family-friendly events. Many communities host free activities, petting zoos, or crafts that don’t cost a dime. If nothing is available, get together with friends or neighbors and set up your own casual egg hunt at a park.
Keep It Simple, Keep Your Money
Easter is about making memories, not debt. Your kids won’t remember the elaborate table settings or matching bunny pajamas, but they will remember hunting for eggs and stuffing their faces with chocolate.
So, let’s stop trying to turn every holiday into a competition and just enjoy the day—without going broke in the process. Now go forth and embrace the low-effort, high-fun Easter. Your sanity (and wallet) will thank you.
