Easter is very nearly upon us once again. It’s a deeply religious time for many, but for many children it frequently involves a little creature called ‘the Easter Bunny’. Money is tight, but your kids shouldn’t have to suffer because of it. Even the adults should not get anything less of an Easter experience as we are at least ordinarily accustomed to an Easter basket. So here’s what to do.
Easter eggs
Here’s a great way to mix a little history lesson with the dying of Easter eggs this year. Back in the days before little colored tablets, stickers, food coloring or shake in a bag egg coloring kits, if you wanted to color something, you had to use natural products. The Indians colored their clothing and other various items with things like fruit juice, vegetables for leafy vegetation (tea leaves and coffee grounds will be your leafy vegetation). Simply place the unboiled eggs you want colored (one singular color) in a pan covered with water and a teaspoon of vinegar. Next, you will be adding the natural dye.
- Strongly brewed coffee or tea bags = brown or beige
- Cranberries, beets or frozen raspberries = red or pink
- Ground turmeric = yellow
- Red cabbage leaves or canned blueberries = blue
- Yellow onion skins = orange
- Apple peels from yellow delicious apples = greenish gold
- Carrot tops, ground cumin, lemon peels, celery seed or orange peels = light yellow
- Spinach leaves = pale green
After adding your natural ingredient for coloring, bring the water to a boil, then reduce heat under the pan and allow 15 minutes of simmering time. Remove the natural coloring ingredients, unless you want a darker color, in which case you can leave the eggs in the colored water with the ingredients overnight in the refrigerator. And there you have your very own frugally colored Easter eggs complete with a history lesson.
Of course you’ll need a basket in which to put those eggs!
Baskets don’t have to be made from woven wicker; they can be made of… oh so much more. Try these on for size next time you need a basket in which to put your Easter goodies:
- Small, lunch sized, paper bags decorated with hand drawn bunnies, chicks, eggs and so on.
- For teenage boys, a tackle box filled with not only Easter goodies but any appropriate fishing gear. For girls, a make-up case with Easter goodies and assorted beauty supplies.
- Take a lovely Easter bonnet, turn it upside down and you have a beautiful Easter basket for grandmother, aunt, sister or mother.
- A flower pot makes a great Easter basket with goodies and just a couple of gardening items (seed packets, trowel, gardening gloves or soil).
- Dollar store plastic pails (include the shovel if you wish).
- Plastic containers for fresh fruit from the produce section.
Excellent, now what to put in your little basket?
This could get lengthy. We’re trying to save money here remember, so get your little thinking caps on and put that frugal mind of yours to work:
NOTE: Whenever possible, purchase these things at a dollar store!
- You know those little plastic eggs that you snap apart and back together again? Okay, fill those with either jelly beans or some crazy favorite little items that your kid loves such as rubber bugs, plastic dinosaurs, stickers, etc.
- Still wrapped (that means unopened), fast food toys from thrift stores or rummage sales.
- Homemade Easter cookies.
- Sidewalk chalk which comes in the shape of eggs.
- Homemade candy or other treats that are homemade (popcorn balls, rice crispy treats colored and shaped like eggs).
- Frisbees, bubbles, crayons, little books, a jump rope, rubber stamps and ink pads, fun shoelaces and socks, note cards or stationary, holiday themed coloring books or jacks and bouncing ball. All of these are great fun and can be purchased very inexpensively (or made by hand).
Whereas I fully realize the religious connotations of Easter, I also know that it is looked forward to by many children expecting the Easter Bunny or Easter egg hunts. Your religious beliefs are of course a private matter for you and your family to deal with as you see fit. These are suggestions for the frugal minded Easter Bunny (whoever you may be) to try to help out at a time when the economy is less than desirable.
An alternative is to buy crafts and materials from a reasonably priced store like a local Joann. You can also shop Joann online. Make sure you check for any available joann coupons to apply at checkout.
Have fun with it!