Saving Money on Easter

So, this year, especially since we are striving to become debt free and save up for a house and everything (not to mention stay within the cash only budget we've set,) I think are are going to try something different!

In past years, my husband and I would spend a nice chink of cash on our kids and each-other for Easter gifts. Especially the kids. We'd get them each a little basket, full of little toys and treats. I have also bought them a cute Easter outfit each. Then there are the plastic eggs we get for them to find and the candy to put into them. Sitting there, adding it all up went something like this...

1 basket - $3
Toys for basket - $10
Treats - $5
Easter grass - $1
Outfit - $12 (or more)
Eggs - $2
Egg candy - $2
Total = $35 (each) X 3 kids = $105.00

Now, when my youngest doesn't even crawl yet, I'm sure we could just spend money for an outfit for the youngest taking our total down to $82.00, but looking at the number that we used to want to spend, led me to think of this amazing idea!!! Cut out the fluff!

This year, we will be teaching our children about the real meaning and reason for Easter, not about the fictional bunny that leaves you eggs and treats to find. We will still spend Easter with family and have the traditional egg hunt with them, but in the morning, we are going to give them a present. A picture that we will hang in their rooms that will remind them what Easter is all about and why it is important to us. We are going to give them a picture of Jesus Christ, and that will be it.

Yay for us for cutting down our Easter spending form over $100 down to less than $20.00 (including our contribution to the egg hunt with the family).

Also, I think we will do more colored real eggs than plastic candy filled eggs. For one thing it is much cheaper, and another... a whole lot less sugar, which, lets face it, between hyper-active kids and a diabetic husband, who need the extra sugar anyway?

My main point... If we can remember the real reason for each and every holiday;Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, even Valentines Day... we not only instill in our children understanding and values, we are also teaching them to be frugal and how to be frugal in a way that makes sense to them, while at the same time helping our own budgets stay on track.