Expert Reveals How to Save Money on Easter Celebrations Amid Rising Costs
Easter has transformed from a simple celebration into an increasingly expensive holiday for families across the UK. What once involved modest traditions like homemade cards and a few chocolate eggs has evolved into pressure for extravagant displays, themed outfits, and excessive spending. With chocolate prices soaring and school holidays extending family expenses, many households face financial strain during this spring festival.
The Financial Pressure of Modern Easter Celebrations
Rajan Lakhani, personal finance expert and Head of Money at Plum, highlights the compounding factors making Easter costly. "Schools are closed for that extra bit longer. That means, if you're a parent, you're having to spend more on looking after your children during that time, whether it's putting them into holiday clubs or taking them to various events and excursions," he explains.
Inflation further complicates matters. "Inflation has been quite significant over the past few years, and until recently, it had started coming down, but now potentially it's increasing again with geopolitical events," Lakhani notes. "Even though the rate of inflation is decreasing, that doesn't mean prices are decreasing, it just means they're increasing at a lesser pace."
Creating and Sticking to an Easter Budget
The foundation of cost-effective Easter planning begins with budgeting. "Easter is one of those holidays that can steeply become very expensive if you aren't careful. Between the chocolate spending and the pressure for a full Easter dinner, costs can add up really fast," warns Lakhani.
He recommends using budgeting apps like Plum, Monzo, and Pocket to create specific spending pockets dedicated to Easter expenses. "There are various apps where you can create a specific pocket allocated to your Easter spending and draw from that specifically, so you're not using any other money, and you're reminding yourself to stick to that budget."
Smart Strategies for Chocolate and Egg Hunts
When it comes to chocolate, expectations can be tempered without sacrificing enjoyment. "The Easter bunny doesn't need to shop for high-end chocolate," Lakhani advises. "You can buy affordable, good-tasting chocolate, like supermarket-own brands and wrap it up yourself in colourful tissue paper with a ribbon, and that creates similar excitement."
Timing purchases can yield significant savings. "If your family doesn't mind a delayed celebration, wait till Monday morning, many of the biggest retailers will reduce Easter egg prices significantly during that period after Easter Sunday."
For egg hunts, creativity trumps expense. "Kids remember searching for the items and being with friends or family, more than the volume of sugar or chocolate," says Lakhani. He suggests replacing chocolate eggs with reusable plastic eggs filled with stickers or fun items, or creating felt oval shapes with reward coupons.
Homemade chocolate nests using own-brand chocolate and cereal can also save money compared to shop-bought versions. "My kids love stirring in the cornflakes or shredded wheat," Lakhani shares. Shopping around for mini eggs is crucial due to shrinkflation affecting big brands.
Managing Food Costs During the Holiday Period
With children missing free school meals during the Easter break, food expenses naturally increase. Practical strategies include:
- Shopping around for the best prices
- Choosing frozen over fresh produce
- Buying in bulk when possible
- Maximizing leftovers
- Utilizing supermarket loyalty schemes
- Batch cooking to save time and money
For the traditional Easter roast, Lakhani recommends cooking from scratch rather than buying pre-prepared options. "For example, honey-roasted parsnips; supermarkets will be selling them for upwards of £3 for a small portion, when you can easily buy carrots, parsnips and whatever you want with your lamb, along with a pot of honey, for less than that."
Again, delaying purchases until Easter Monday can mean securing roasting joints at half price. "Stick to what's in season, whether it's carrots, peas or spring greens, they'll be much fresher and much cheaper."
When hosting extended family, Lakhani suggests sharing the burden. "If you are hosting extended family, you don't have to shoulder all the costs. Ask loved ones to bring side dishes, pudding, or even chocolate eggs."
Budget-Friendly Decorations and Activities
Instead of purchasing expensive shop-bought decorations, families can create homemade alternatives using recycled materials. "Making origami bunnies, weaving paper baskets or making papier mache eggs and getting the kids involved is a really good option to not only keep costs down but keep them engaged during the holidays," says Lakhani.
For those wanting store-bought decorations, buying during post-Easter sales for use the following year can yield savings. Lakhani also recommends searching online for discount codes and vouchers before any purchase.
The same approach applies to excursions and meals out. "There'll be a lot of offers at this time of year, like 'kids go free'. You can use AI tools like Perplexity and Claude which can scout multiple sites for discount codes, offers and vouchers," he adds. "That'll help you save money and time because you're not having to trawl through lots of individual sites to find the most relevant discounts."
Focusing on What Truly Matters
Ultimately, Easter celebrations need not be extravagant to be memorable. "Kids don't remember the extravagance. What they remember is actually spending time with family, doing an Easter egg hunt with their cousins and siblings, and that's what's most fun about it," Lakhani emphasizes.
In today's fast-paced world, the holiday provides valuable opportunities for connection. "People are so busy now, and when it comes to working life, things are so fast moving. The opportunity to take a few days holiday and spend some quality time with family and your children is really important."
By implementing these practical strategies, families can enjoy meaningful Easter celebrations without financial stress, focusing on creating lasting memories rather than accumulating expenses.
