Easter celebrations, traditionally featuring roast lamb, a few chocolate eggs, and handmade cards, now burden many families with high expenses. Themed outfits, elaborate decorations, and lavish chocolate purchases amid rising prices strain budgets. Extended school holidays also drive up childcare costs through clubs or outings. Inflation, fueled by geopolitical tensions, keeps prices elevated even as the rate slows, meaning costs continue climbing, albeit more gradually.
Build an Easter Budget
Rajan Lakhani, personal finance expert and Head of Money at Plum, warns that Easter expenses escalate quickly from chocolate and full dinners. Families benefit from setting a dedicated spending limit using apps like Plum, Monzo, or Pocket to track and control outlays.
Choose Affordable Chocolate and Egg Hunts
Skip premium chocolate; supermarket own-brands wrapped in colorful paper and ribbon thrill children just as much. Shop on Easter Monday when retailers slash egg prices. Egg hunts thrive without chocolate overload, as kids cherish the search and family time. Fill reusable plastic eggs with stickers, toys, or reward coupons like extra bedtime. Homemade chocolate nests with budget chocolate and cereal provide fun; Lakhani notes his children enjoy mixing in cornflakes or shredded wheat. Always compare mini egg prices to counter shrinkflation from big brands.
Plan a Cost-Effective Easter Feast
Holidays without school meals boost food spending. Save by price-checking, choosing frozen produce, buying bulk, stretching leftovers, and leveraging loyalty programs. Batch cooking helps manage costs. Preparing roasts from scratch often tastes better and costs less than pre-made options. Lakhani highlights honey-roasted parsnips: supermarkets charge over £3 for small portions, but raw carrots, parsnips, and honey cost far less. Buy roasting joints on Easter Monday at half price. Select seasonal items like carrots, peas, or spring greens for freshness and savings. When hosting relatives, ask them to bring sides, desserts, or eggs to share the load.
Craft Decorations and Find Deals on Outings
Homemade decor from recyclables—origami bunnies, woven baskets, or papier-mâché eggs—engages kids and cuts costs, per Lakhani. Stock up on store-bought items during post-Easter sales. Hunt online discount codes and vouchers for purchases, outings, and meals. “Kids go free” promotions abound. Tools like Perplexity or Claude quickly scan sites for the best offers.
Focus on Quality Family Time
Social media extravagance sets unrealistic standards, but children value egg hunts with siblings and cousins over excess. Lakhani emphasizes that quality time during holidays creates lasting memories in a busy world.
