How Much Should I Spend on Easter Baskets? (+Tips to do Easter on a Budget!)

For some families, Easter is a huge celebration and also a fairly large expense. Even though it is not as expensive as Christmas, it is still a holiday that can easily add up to a lot of money.

For the year 2021, the National Retail Federation estimates that the average American family will spend $179.70 on Easter. They also estimate that 79% of the US celebrates Easter in some fashion.

The estimate of $179.70 is an increase of $3.85 from 2020’s estimate of $175.85, but it is a huge jump from the 2019 estimate of $151.25. (that’s an increase of $28.45!)

How much do parents spend on Easter?

The thought of spending $179.70 on Easter for one family, just sounds super high to me, so I decided to see what the average would be of families that are on a budget.

I recently conducted a survey of 175 budget conscious families to find out exactly how much money they budget and spend for Easter.

Now budget conscious does not mean low income, it just means these families are financially aware and use budgeting as a tool. Their income, debt, and location within the US is all over the place.

Total Amount Spent on Easter	Number of Families	Percentage of Total
$0	24	13.7%
$10-15	14	8%
$20-30	25	14.3%
$40-50	36	20.6%
$60-75	12	6.9%
$80-100	27	15.4%
$120-150	17	9.7%
$160-200	15	8.6%
$201-300	3	1.7%
$301-500	2	1.1%
Totals	175	100%

So, from all this data, I was able to determine that a budget conscious family typically spends about $73.29 on Easter. That is a pretty huge savings compared to the survey of any family (regardless of how financially aware they are) that typically spends $179.70. So right off the bat, we can say that families that budget spend about 59% less on Easter!

How much should you spend on your kid for Easter?

Now not all families are the same size, so I decided to take it a step further and see just how much money each family budgets per child.

There does not seem to be a lot of data on this, and all I could find is that it could range between $25 to $100 per child.

That’s a pretty large range, so I went and asked these same families, how much do they typically spend per child on Easter?

Average Amount spent on Easter Baskets

Amount Spent Per Child	Number of Families	Percentage of Total
NA	6	3.4%
$5-10	24	13.7%
$11-20	49	28%
$25-40	45	25.7%
$45-60	32	18.3%
$61-75	6	3.4%
$100-150	11	6.3%
$151-200	2	1.1%
Totals	175	100%

The current data available says average families spend between $25-100 per child, that means the average is probably about $62.50 per child is spent on Easter. The families that budget spent on average $33.74 per child, so that is a savings of about 47%!

Side note: the reason the NA category is only 6 families versus the 24 families that spend zero on easter, is because some families did not spend any money but did give items of value to their children, so they estimated the worth of the value.

Unique & Cheap Easter Basket Ideas

Now that we know what the average family and the families that budget spend, we can really look into ways to cut costs for Easter Baskets and other expenses!

1. Skip the Easter “Basket”

Yes, you heard that right. Get rid of the flimsy “Easter” basket that is only used once and usually ends up damaged. Instead try to pick containers that are sturdy and can be used for much longer than just the holiday.

This could be the collapsible storage baskets, a laundry basket, or even a small plastic box. We love to store small toys in baskets to keep them sorted, so this works great for us.

Another awesome idea I have seen lately is to think “Springtime”, and instead of a basket put cute stuff in a pair of rain boots or an upside open umbrella.

If you are really set on getting a basket, go look for one at a thrift store. Almost every thrift store has a ton of baskets all year round and they are amazingly cheap. My local Goodwill has them for $0.99 all the time! If you don’t like the color, you can spray paint them easily too.

2. Dollar Shopping

The most basic items that are usually included in Easter Baskets are lots of candy, plastic grass, and a couple small toys. You can up your game this year by shopping at the dollar store or even the dollar section at places like Target!

What I love about dollar shopping is I can find useful stuff too like arts and crafts supplies, coloring books, flash cards, puzzles, bubbles, socks, hair accessories, learning workbooks, toothbrushes, and so much more.

Yes, their toys are not always great quality, so I tend to just grab a stuffed animal that is Easter themed like a chick or bunny in the toy aisle.

(Pro tip: skip the plastic grass too, this stuff is horrible for pets if swallowed and it also tears up vacuum cleaners. Instead use tissue paper, paper shreds if you like messy stuff, or even a small blanket, towel, or placemat.)

3. Skip the Easter Outfits

It’s been proven that most kids hate Easter outfits and usually only wear them once. Easter outfits are usually pretty expensive as well.

For some reason if it comes with matching shoes, a bowtie, or has a bunny theme, it is going to cost a lot! So instead, just buy a pastel-colored dress for girls or a light-colored polo or button up shirt for boys.

If your heart is set on having the absolutely adorable Easter outfits, go to your local thrift store! Since these outfits typically are only worn once, the ones that you find second hand are usually in fabulous condition.

Plus, you can pay pennies for gently used clothing versus buying a brand-new outfit.

Don’t forget to take those Easter pictures outside and in the shade to avoid sun glare. Taking your own Easter pics will save a ton of money too. There are so many free editing apps for pictures, so you can make them look like they cost a fortune.

Also check around to a few places, and you can usually score really cheap prints if you want to hang the pictures on the wall!

4. Cut back on the Easter Candy

Yes, I know candy at Easter is a given, but I also know that months later I still have Easter Candy sitting around.

I usually try to pick candy that is individually wrapped and candy that I know each child will like. I hate buying those huge mega packs of candy assortments because half of it never gets eaten.

My almost 5-year-old son gets way too crazy when he has a lot of sugar, so we try to limit the amount of candy he has at any one time. The small fun size pieces are a perfect treat, and we give them out over the next few weeks.

My 2 year old actually doesn’t like candy other than lollipops, so she is super easy to please. Instead of buying lots of candy that I will be tempted to eat myself, I usually end up buying special snacks that each kid really likes.

So my son may get some small bags of cookies, and my daughter will be over the moon with some packs of crackers.

Definitely check out your local dollar store for candy and snacks! They have name brands, and they are super cheap compared to other stores.

(Pro Tip: shop for candy a few days after Valentine’s Day to catch some super clearance deals! I have never heard a child complain about heart shaped candy in their Easter basket!)

5. Free Events for Easter

For some families that really have no wiggle room in their budget, it is really hard to spend an extra $75 for Easter. Thankfully it is now easier than ever to find free local events near you to enjoy Easter.

In my area, a lot of local churches, small towns, and businesses put on free events that include Egg Hunts, Meeting the Easter Bunny, and Easter Meals.

Every time I see these events, they are almost always open to the public and free of charge. So that means you don’t have to go to that church or be a member to participate.

If you don’t want to go to a church, check the small towns and cities around you, most do events as well. Also check out any tourist spots near you, they love to throw big Easter events in order to encourage more people to visit.

Check your local Facebook community page or just ask your friends where they are going! Just search “Free Events near me” or “Free Easter near me” on Facebook to find lots of options.

Easter on a Budget not on a Credit Card

It doesn’t matter if you budget $0 or $500 for Easter. What does matter is not going into debt for a holiday.

If you love to go all out on holidays with decorations and gifts, that is perfectly fine if you can afford it. Please do not rack up debt in order to celebrate Easter.

There are lots of families that choose not to celebrate Easter, and there are also lots that just do very low-key events at home. You are not in competition with anyone else. Do not let how you celebrate Easter be a reflection of your self worth.

It doesn’t matter if you save a ton of money on your Easter shopping, if you have to put it on a credit card, all those savings will disappear and will be replaced with huge amounts of interest payments.

If you already have a huge debt mountain to get out from under, please don’t add to it with spending at Easter.

If you want a fun tracker to track savings for Easter, check out this free printable “Easter Nest Egg Tracker“!

Instead utilize some free local events, watch an Easter movie at home, do a scavenger hunt, or just spend time with your family.

You don’t need to do a huge Easter Meal with all of the fixings. I can’t remember the last time I cooked a big Easter dinner, and I don’t miss it all or the clean-up that usually is needed afterwards.

As with any holiday, being with friends and family is the most important. Spending time costs a lot less than spending money, but it usually leaves a much bigger impact on the ones you love. Happy Easter!