Easter on a Budget

This is actually the first year that we will be giving Easter gifts (a.k.a. Easter baskets) to our boys. We just did not have the room in the budget to do it the other two years of Conner’s life and to be honest, he would not have even remembered.

Therefore, now that we are working on making Easter on a budget work for us, we are using a few different ideas to help make it possible.

Plan

Planning will save you time and money. Know what gifts you want to purchase weeks (if not months) before Easter and plan accordingly. Same goes for East outfits – plan what outfits you will need to purchase in advance so you are not scrambling to find the perfect outfits that fit in your budget.

How Much

How much can you realistically afford to spend on Easter? This is a critical question to ask yourself before you go crazy spending too much money. Can you only afford $20 or can you afford $100? Is that per person or collectively? Once you know how much you can spend, adjust your plan accordingly and make a list of the items you want to purchase that are within your price range.

Skip It

Do not have the room in the budget for Easter décor? Skip it. Do not have the room in the budget for new Easter outfits? Skip it. Do not have the room in the budget for more than one bag of candy? Skip it. Do not have the room in the budget for an Easter ham? Skip it. (We actually cook hot dogs and hamburgers on Easter and no one has complained.)

All too often we feel bad for not providing the same experiences as our neighbors and friends, but the truth is that we are all different and experiences were meant to be shared but they weren’t meant to be the same for everyone. Skip what you cannot fit in the budget and let go of any guilt that you may feel because there is always next year.

Continue reading here over at Made to Be a Momma.

Linked Up To: The Thrifty Couple