Not Made Of Money

Creating a fun Easter basket for your family members can be a challenge when you’re faced with creating the basket on a tight budget. Easter-themed candy and toys can be expensive, especially if you have to make more than one basket. So, how do you let your little ones enjoy the spoils of the Easter Bunny without doing serious damage to your budget? The answer lies in a little creative thinking and some smart shopping.

Rethink your definition of an Easter basket. Easter baskets don’t have to look just like the big ones that come filled with goodies at the department store. Instead look for a container that fits in with the treats that you are planning to purchase. A plastic storage container wrapped in a bow would be the perfect way to leave your little ones small toys. A teenage girl might prefer a cloth, zippered bag that will hold her make-up items. If you have your heart set on an actual basket, consider purchasing one at your local craft store that can be reused each year. Stores like Joann’s or Hobby Lobby regularly offer discounts on their baskets; just check their ads.

Pick a theme for your Easter basket. Creating baskets centered around a theme makes choosing items for the basket much easier. If your little one loves arts and crafts, consider filling his basket with art supplies like colored paper, sparkly glue, crayons, or decorative-edged scissors. A pre-teen girl might enjoy a basket filled with inexpensive accessories such as hair clips or bracelets. Find something that suits your child and then look for ways to focus on that theme.

Be creative about where you shop. Sure, you could go to your local department store and probably find everything you need to fill your basket, but is that the most economical way to complete your Easter basket? Dollar stores are notorious for having good prices for these types of things. You could come away from a dollar store with small packages of toys or decorations for your basket. You might even get lucky and find larger items like a compact disc album to use in a teenager’s basket.

Finally, don’t be afraid to use candy in your basket that doesn’t necessarily scream “Easter.” If your little ones love Sweet Tarts, he will be much happier to find those in his basket than a more traditional candy that he doesn’t like as much. Shop for the more inexpensive, traditionally-wrapped candies instead of the pastel-packaged versions available for Easter.

After you’ve chosen all of the ingredients for your Easter baskets, make sure that you put plenty of thought into the arrangement of your basket. A nice presentation will make your baskets much more striking in appearance. On Easter morning, you can be certain that your family will love their Easter baskets created on a budget because the baskets were custom-made with their likes and dislikes in mind.

• Ten Ways to Fund Your Vacation
• Be Frugal Not Cheap!

• Personality Traits and Success I recently did some editing to an article I submitted...
• Money Saving Tips: 122 Ways To Trim Your Budget A while back All You Magazine offered to give away...