Kat’s Money Corner: Wishing you an affordable Easter

You probably expect to shell out a little more on your kids for their birthdays and on Christmas, but Easter expenses can add up quickly. Between new clothes, pictures with the bunny and treats to hide for an egg hunt, expenses can snowball in advance of this spring holiday. If you plan ahead and get a little crafty, you can have an adorable holiday without breaking your budget.

Do they really need brand-new outfits?

A pastel dress or adorably crooked bow tie can translate to pictures you’ll treasure forever. But you’ll never remember the price tag for kids’ new duds if you play it smart. Check out thrift or consignment stores for those Sunday outfits if your heart desires something more festive. Better yet, buy outfits that can be worn for other occasions later in the year, minus the frilly bonnet.

Get crafty with artistic expression

Easter practically begs for a trip to the hobby store for cute baskets and fun things to fill them with. It’s a great chance to encourage your kids to get artistic with egg dyeing, too. Just don’t rush blindly into the full-price craft aisle.

Check the dollar store for basket stuffers. You can reuse baskets, too. And rather than purchasing that shredded green plastic filler that you’ll still be vacuuming up in June, use some fresh grass from the yard. Double-check egg-coloring kits to make sure you don’t already have the necessary ingredients, like vinegar and food coloring, in your kitchen pantry. And post-Easter sales are a great chance to stock up for next year at deep discounts.

Let someone else hide the treasure

Before running up a pricey grocery bill involving a giant ham, consider hosting a simple potluck. When it comes to Easter egg hunts, check with local churches and community centers. Many of them host free egg hunts that include free pictures with the Easter Bunny.

With a little planning, your Easter weekend can be memorable without being minimal. Keeping Easter activities simple just means more time to spend with family and less time cleaning up that artificial shredded grass.

Kat's Money Corner is posted on Dollars & Sense every Tuesday. Kat Hnatyshyn, when not blogging or caring for her little ones, is a manager with CommunityAmerica Credit Union. For more financial chatter, click http://twitter.com/savinmavens or visit http://communityamerica.com.

This story was originally published March 22, 2016 at 9:29 AM with the headline "Kat’s Money Corner: Wishing you an affordable Easter."