Australian mums share how they’re celebrating Easter on a budget – with some spending less than $20 on the holiday

Thrifty Aussie mums share how they’re spending Easter on a budget, with many managing the holiday for under $20.

Parents are feeling the pressure as gift-giving becomes common at Easter, but many are taking a “less is more” approach as the cost of living continues to put pressure on Australian families.

One mother said she shops on sales and then celebrates Easter with her young children a week late and another saves money by never buying “anything in a box” and sticking to packets of chocolates that are much cheaper.

‘Moms, can we talk about Easter on a budget? What are your best cheap tricks for children at Easter? Where have you found the best bargains? Can you share some great ideas?’ asked a woman in the Moms who budget and save Facebook group.

The query generated hundreds of helpful responses, including from one mum who said she buys chocolate bunnies for $1.70 at Aldi and Cadbury on sale.

‘My children don’t need branded chocolate, but I do. Few plastic eggs to add to the hunt. This year I can’t find cheap chocolate in hollow eggs,” he stated.

‘Don’t overdo it. I’m going to sound like an “old person”, but when we were kids in the 80’s and 90’s, we were given chocolate eggs/bunnies on Easter Sunday. And that’s it,” said another saver.

‘There are no Easter boxes, Christmas Eve boxes, baskets full of things. For me, all that just adds money and stress. My kids get a pair of pajamas each and I get a chocolate bunny and some medium and small eggs to hunt for.’

A budget official shared her “controversial” Easter plan.

“While my kids were young enough to not realize when Easter weekend was, I was celebrating Easter the following week and buying eggs for less than half price,” she said.

‘Plus once the Easter bunny phase was over, I did the same thing. I’m not religious, so obviously the holiday itself had no meaning to me.

‘A Freddo Frog egg from Big W for $6 each and a pack of solids to share on a little hunt around the house. Less than 20 dollars for two children,” explained another.

‘Three children, all will receive a Humpty Dumpty and an egg hunt with some small hollow eggs and mini eggs. That’s all. That’s all they need,” a third responded.

One mother said she never buys eggs that come in a box because of the inflated price, while another plans ahead and buys clothes for gifts when they are on sale.

‘I don’t buy anything in a box. My kids have buckets and I buy all the things on sale in multi-packs and divide them up. “I put a big bunny in each one,” one suggested.

“When winter clothes go on sale (at the end of the season, when everything costs between $3 and $5), I’ll buy pajamas, a sweater, and slippers, usually for less than $15 per child, and then add a couple of eggs at the end,” wrote a second. .

One woman said she only spent her money on candy for an Easter egg hunt that her kids love.

‘We’ve only done an Easter egg hunt, they had a lot of fun. We give them baskets and tote bags and they run wild trying to find the eggs. “We only spent about 10 dollars on wild eggs and another couple of dollars on bags,” he said.

We make a pair of pajamas for each one, a big bunny and some small eggs. In my opinion, they don’t need any more. My kids are most excited about the fact that Easter morning is the only day they are allowed to eat chocolate for breakfast and throughout the day without having to ask!’ a second laughed.

One member said he usually “overdoes it” during the holidays, so he makes sure to buy special treats.

“Woolies and Coles often have sales, as does Big W. I always compare prices before I go shopping. Plus, you don’t need to strictly buy Easter eggs or Easter-themed chocolate,” she said.

‘I buy my children an egg each. I bought the $7 Humpty Dumpy this week at Woolies. So it’s $21. Done and dusted,” another mother responded.

‘Kmart has little bunnies for $1 and they’re delicious!’ someone added.