Yahoo Finance Frugal Finds for Easter: How To Fill Your Baskets Without Emptying Your Wallet
Easter is on March 31 this year, so there are still a few weeks left to prepare. Even if you’re on a strict budget, you can still put together some memorable Easter baskets for the family. You just need to get a little creative with your shopping and what you put into those baskets.
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Ready to make some fun Easter baskets this year without breaking the bank? Here are some helpful tips.
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Get (Almost) Everything at Target
Target has a lot to offer when it comes to affordable items, and this is especially true around the holidays. So, if you live near one of these stores, check out their aisles for different Easter-themed items.
“I wholeheartedly recommend Target when it comes to finding budget-friendly Easter basket goodies because of the sheer variety of choices they offer,” said Gary Gray, co-founder and CEO of Coupon Chief. “All of this is conveniently categorized on their website based on the age group you’re shopping for, which simplifies the process even more. This gives you a better idea of what to look out for when you pop into their stores since you already have a good idea of what to pick up.”
When it comes to what you might put into those baskets, Gray provided the following suggestions:
Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Eggs Easter Candy Carton ($1.19): “These peanut butter candy eggs come in playful pastel colors sticking to the theme of spring. They add a delightful touch to your Easter basket without breaking the bank.”
Favorite Day’s Spring Milk Chocolate Bunny ($1): “Since Easter baskets are incomplete without the classic chocolate bunny, you just can’t skip out on these… Beyond basket-filling duties, these bunnies work well for snack boards or candy bars.”
12-Count Pre-filled Easter Plastic Eggs ($5): “You get 12 eggs that are already filled with an assortment of mini toys and collectibles. It saves you the trouble of purchasing eggs and toys separately, which is both cost and time-effective.”
10-Piece Washable Markers ($2.25): “Not only do they offer a vibrant palette, but their washable nature prevents unwanted messes. These markers are broad-tipped and great for coloring books or freehand doodling.”
Plastic Easter Egg Dye Kit by Spritz ($3): “Another affordable, creative, and classic Easter activity is painting eggs. While you can opt for the traditional paint kits, I personally find [this kit] much better because of their mess-free experience. Moreover, there’s something about tie-dyeing that has a spring-like appeal, making it a perfect Easter activity for friends and family.”
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Hit Up the Dollar Store
“One great way to maximize your Easter baskets is by frequenting dollar stores. You can find cheap decorations that still look fantastic in the baskets, or even cheap baskets themselves,” said Scott Lieberman, founder of Touchdown Money.
Anything you can’t find at Target, you can pick up at a dollar store near you. Whether that’s Dollar General, Family Dollar or Dollar Tree, you’re sure to find some great bargains for about a dollar.
Here are just a few goodies you can get at these stores for a little more than $1 apiece:
Easter baskets
Sunglasses
Candy, chocolates, and snacks
Headbands
Toy cars
Markers
Paints and paintbrushes
Stuffed Animals
Coloring books and crayons
Popcorn
Flavored lip balm
Easter grass
Plastic eggs
Certain items, like bags of assorted candies or packaged lip balm, can also be split across several baskets, meaning you can maximize your money even more. As an added bonus, if you have too much of something — say, candy — you can always store it for later.
“For the main candies, buy in bulk,” said Lieberman. “Large bags of candy can fill baskets and give you a secret stash for later in the year.”
Go to the Thrift Store or Flea Market
You’d be surprised at the types of things you can find at your local thrift store or market. Prices and selection depend on where you go, of course, but you can often find unique goodies. This may include unique handmade items, wooden toys, fun-shaped erasers, Easter kits, and other creative or funky goods.
Spruce them up with some sweets, small toys, and Easter grass — which you can get from your local dollar store.
Embrace DIY
You don’t have to spend a ton of money to make the holiday memorable. Get together with the whole family and make Easter baskets together.
For example, you could hard-boil a dozen eggs that you might already have in the kitchen. Then, pick up some nontoxic dyes or a dye kit and get everyone to decorate their eggs together — once they’ve cooled, of course.
You can go even further with the DIY aspect this year and create your own decorations. One option is to make colorful origami flowers with — or for, if they’re too young to participate — the kids. You can even get the paper from a dollar store or Target.
Toss in some candies, knickknacks, and small toys — think spinning tops, miniature rocking horses, fidget spinners and filled plastic eggs — and you have something that’ll get the kids excited.
And remember, you might already have some of these things at home, meaning you can cut down on costs. Sweet treats, for instance, are an especially easy one to do at home.
“You can also make treats for your Easter baskets. Homemade cookies can be a great touch, made with things you’d buy or have on hand anyway,” Lieberman said.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Frugal Finds for Easter: How To Fill Your Baskets Without Emptying Your Wallet
