A Frugal Easter

Before I get into discussing A Frugal Easter, please note this is an abbreviated version. The full version is on our web site, www.FrugalYankee.com. It is more in-depth and has more tips.

Now that that business is done, let's start with sharing a few factoids. Later, you can impress your in-laws with your knowledge of arcane Easter trivia. You know, when the conversation at the Easter table is veering into potentially explosive area, you can deftly divert everyone's attention with these pearls of useless information.

For example, Easter is a moveable feast. This means it falls on different days in different years. It is determined to be the first Sunday after the full moon after the Vernal (Spring) Equinox. This year Easter is quite early falling on March 23rd. The earliest it can be is March 22.

The word Easter comes from the ancient Anglo-Saxon or Teutonic name for the dawn goddess Eostre or Ostara. Eostre changed a bird into a rabbit, thus it joined the fertility of the egg with an allegedly fertile animal as an Easter symbol.

GETTING READY FOR EASTER

A Frugal Yankee knows preparation is the key for any endeavor. Easter is no exception. Here are some quick tips.

• Buy your Easter candy after Halloween and Valentine's Day. You'll save a bundle.

• Look for wicker baskets all year long especially at yard sales. 

• Color your Easter eggs with markers, add sprinkles or glue stick pictures on them. 

Get creative and have fun. Get everyone involved. Easter is a great time for joint family fun!

CREATING YOUR BASKET 

Make your own Easter basket and make unique to your family. Here are a few thoughts.

Find nifty wicker baskets and then repaint them, add glitter or give them a personal touch.
(Remember, reuse that plastic grass each year.)

Use a beach pail as the basket and then it will double as a summer toy.

Find a funky, cool lunch box.

For older kids, create a make up box with soap samples, nail polish, perfumes, etc.

Try creating a tool box or a tackle box and fill it with stuff accordingly

 If none of these work, take a fancy store bag and fill it full of their favorite foods. I doubt you'll get any complaints, even from a finicky teenager.

Remember, it really doesn't matter what the vessel is.  It's the goodies inside that'll excite them.

WHAT GOES IN. THE GOODIES

The operative word here is think outside the basket. Make the Easter basket a celebration of life, not just a celebration of sugar highs.  We found so many great ideas, we created a full page of them on our web site. Here's the link FUN EASTER BASKET IDEAS.

WHAT GOES ON. THE TREASURE HUNT

There's lot of fun to be had looking for the goodies. Below are just a few of our ideas.

HIDING BASKETS

Write clues and leave them around the house. Lead the kids from room to room until they find the mother lode.

FLASHLIGHT HUNT

Give each kid a small flashlight. Then get them looking for the goodies you've so slyly put in dark places. You'll love the laughs and energy.

We have more ideas like these over at our web site FrugalYankee.com.

Yet, when we get right down to it, Easter is a religious and a secular holiday. It can be a great time for the whole family. It takes just a little thought and some preparation. The more you put into it, the more your children will remember it. It doesn't have to be expensive. Be a Frugal Yankee - enjoy life, spend less. 

From traditional tips to savvy perspectives, the Frugal Yankee knows how to enjoy life and spend less. Find out more by going to Frugal Yankee.com.