High Cost of Easter

[mamalle]

I guess everybody is different but I do not buy my kids things during the year so that is why I wait till the holidays to buy things for them like new bathing suits, spring & summer items like chalk, balls, jump rope, water stuff, etc for their easter basket.. Mil has a basket for them filled with new goggles, water toys for the pool, etc.. These things we use starting around now since we live in south fla and get used quite frequently now till around fall. So it just makes more sense to do it this way instead of lots of chocolate and candy.

My kids love st pattys day too! The little leprechauns came and messed up their playroom this year. They moved all of our chairs in the kitchen and put all of their webkinz around the globe and the baby dolls reading a few books. They left a green hat filled with pencils, bubble gum and some sweet tarts, along with pins to wear to school. ( all thanks to the dollar store of course) Along with some St Patty's days coloring pages & poems. ds says it is is favorite holiday.

 

[heartsy77]

I love to spoil my kids for holidays because for the most part they are good kids I expect a lot out of them everyday. They do chores everyday: laundry, dishes, vacuuming, sweeping, ( yesterday they cleaned the back yard up for spring and the front shed! I work full time, running a daycare out of our house and they help out all the time, and I go to college so I can't do as much I used to.

DD-8
101 Dalmatians DVD bonus set
fairies bulletin board, and wall decorations
kangaroo webkinz
Minnie slippers
new ds stylus
grace the dog -AG
Kit's scooter _AG
2 AG books
1 tinkerbelle book
1 big box smidgens
1 GH Rudy the rabbit
Jelly Beans
Peeps

DD- 12
Webkinz Himalayan
Felicity Summer outfit- AG
3 AG books
Mario Party for ds
Felicity's Lamb-AG
Disney world karaoke machine CD set
I big box smiggins
1 peeps
1 GH Rudy the Rabbit
Jelly Beans

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

Zero, since we don't celebrate Easter.

 

[Mocharilla]

Geez, it's not Christmas

I gotta say, I was thinking the same thing. In my family, it was always chocolate, and that's it. Not tons of presents.

Its not like I'm gonna give my kids bikes in the middle of winter in PA

Why not? My mom did when I was, like, 14 and we're in Michigan?

I was like "I can't use it yet! ". But it was still awesome.

Easter is costing us zero this year. I've decided the kids have outgrown the basket hunt with candy etc. so we're just going to Grandma's for dinner. She's planning on a few things (small baskets, egg coloring etc) mostly for the younger grandchildren, but mine can participate too.

Zero, since we don't celebrate Easter.

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one with $0, although we do celebrate. DS is just too young for chocolate, as opposed to having outgrown it. But, once he does start getting it, it'll be one basket we reuse and some chocolate every year.

 

[LisaNJ25]

Anyone want to share their pics

 

[tonilea]

Easter bucket - $1
Candy - $2 - DS isn't a huge fan
Leap Pad book - $4.50 (bought from a big sale on their site)
Outfit - $4 - bought last year after Easter @ Penney's

$11.50, plus I will give my sister some $ for the easter eggs - she has a ton of plastic ones and has already stuffed them!

 

[DVCLiz]

I found pretty premade baskets at a specialty shop -

2 at $55.00 each - $110.00
Enchanted movie to share - $15.00
SuperMario Wii - $50.00
SingStar 90s - $30.00

Total - $205.00

 

[labgeek]

My DH said to me "Has anyone told you that you go overboard with this kind of stuff?" as I was running around the house putting eggs everywhere I can find. He gave up on me a long time ago. He loves that I take care of everything and the joy on the kids faces the next morning. Of course, I try to buy stuff that I was probably going to be buying anyways. For example, sidewalk chalk, the art stuff she will use on the 10 hour drive to disney, plus DD does arts / crafts on a daily basis. For DS, he needed new batting gloves, and the hat I had made, other kids on the team had them, and he wears a ball cap all the time. Matches his archery team shirt. I did mainly change, and a few dollars for them in the eggs for next weeks trip.

Plus, I just like doing it. I have just as much fun in all the shopping and prepping in that they do when they open it. It's like my own present for me.

 

[Grumpy'sWife4Ever]

I was up late last night and saw this post so I decided to join in - I had it all tallied up, every detail (took me a while) and I hit the wrong button and it all disappeared. If I get more time later maybe I'll type it all out again, but for now I'll just say that the total for EVERYTHING - food, candy, meal, and clothing - was $127, which I don't think is TOO bad for having three kids! However, I did go slightly over budget, I am trying to keep all celebrations to under $100 this year....maybe I'll get better as the year goes along!

 

[averysmom]

No too bad... we don't go crazy all out.

32.00 on Chocolate - this isn't a ton - but I buy it at an actually chocolate store - each dc got 10 mini eggs, 5 mini creme eggs (about 1/2 the size of the cadbury ones) and a hollow duck and and a hollow rabbit.

Around 20 or so for a t-shrit and flip flops each (dd Little Mermaid, ds, Pirates).

Ds got swim goggles and a new pool noodle - 3.00.

Dd got a skipping rope and a new pool noodle - 3.00

Ds got a new leapster cartridge that I got on sale after Christmas for 7 or 8.

Dd got a 3 pack of princess cars that I got on sale after Christmas for 2 or 3.

So between 65-70, give or take.

We don't buy stuff for them all the time - and they NEVER get candy or chocolate (from us that is ) so this is a big treat!

 

[brymolmom]

We re-use baskets every year so 0 for the baskets this year.

DS5-
1 package fine point Disney Cars Markers - $1
1 Spiderman frisbee - $2.50
1 Winnie the Pooh book - 25 cents at garage sale last summer
1 'magic' towel - MICKEY - 50 cents
1 set math flash cards - $2
3 Higglytown Heroes stuffed characters - 75 cents X 3 = $2.25
2 DISNEY DOLLARS
assorted candy - about $4
TOTAL = $14.50

DD4-
1 package fine point Disney Princess markers - $1
1 Disney princess frisbee - $2.50
1 Beauty & Beast book - 25 cents at garage sale last summer
1 magic Ariel towel - 50 cents
1 small set 2 animal Little Pet Shop - $5
2 DISNEY DOLLARS
assorted candy - about $4
TOTAL = $13

I did spend a bunch on dinner - I'm hosting this year, but that rotates so it's my turn to incur the biggest cost here.

 

[SadieDog]

Geez, it's not Christmas...one chocolate bunny, some M&Ms, a dozen eggs to dye and a small gift in each of their baskets. Total $30 at the most.

And yes we reuse the same baskets - and the same Easter grass! - every year.

I understand. My total has always been under $30.

 

[mom0299]

I just found this thread. I'll play.

We reuse baskets, grass, and plastic eggs each year.

$1.50 - 1 bag of candy to put in plastic eggs
$2 - two small chocolate bunnies
$3 - peeps in their favorite colors
$10 - gifts for DS10's basket (pool toy and Axe spray)
$12 - gifts for DD9's basket (HM tooth tunes, hairbrush)
$16.50 - new shirt for DS
$20 - new dress and sweater for DD
Total - $65
.................
Celebrating the Risen Savior! ----- Priceless

 

[mom0299]

So I'm sure this is a really stupid question - but how does the "Easter bunny" bring back the same basket every year?

My kids are "in the know" now, but when they were younger we just set the asket out the night before so the Easter bunny could fill it when he came. Then the Easter bunny would hide the basket and the kids had to find it in the morning. I still hide their baskets. It's one of those traditions I'm not ready to give up. It helped arouse them for Sonrise Service this morning when they knew they had an Easter basket to find.

 

[RayJay]

Inspired by the egg thread. How much is your Easter gonna cost? Here's my breakdown:

$30 2 Polo shirts for 5yo & 2yo for pictures that the 2yo wouldn't sit for but can use them anyway
$30 for Big toy presents (Diego backpack for 5yo, Little People Easter set for 2yo)
$25 for books (easter sticker & coloring book for 5yo, 2 lift the flap easter books for 2yo)
$10 for 3 packs of egg dye kits (sparkle, egg wraps, and cars theme)
$3 for baskets from Easter Bunny ($1 buckets x 2, grass 2@$.50) Reusebaskets from last year for collecting - these are the Bunny suprise ones
$25 candy ($1 fun size M&M 8 pk, $2 peeps, $2 small bunny with eyes, $2 small wrapped bunny - bought by mistake - 5yo wants to eat the eyes LOL, $8 large bag of mini candies for class, neighborhood hunts, $5 jelly beans (2 cause DH loves them, $5 assorted candbury eggs for moi!)
$4 Plasic eggs for class/neighborhood hunts
$50 grocery bill for coloring eggs and Easter Brunch ingredients (blueberry pancakes, bacon, sausage, croissants, tortillas, fruit salad, OJ, Champagne, and of couse, eggs)
$20 for Easter Movies (Peter Cottontail 2 pk (classic & new), Mel Gibsons Passion)

Total = $200

How about you guys?

Did everything for under $100. Includes gifts, eggs, candy etc....

And everyone was plenty happy.

RayJay

 

[JamesMom]

Wow- thanks everyone for posting!
Wanted to comment on the Easter is another Christmas thing: As Christians (Catholic), Easter is actually a bigger deal than Christmas. We begin with Lent where we deny ourselves for 40 days and after Holy Week where we follow Christ during his last days - its time to celebrate the Ressurection of our Lord!! So we think gifts and candy and parties , feasting if you will, are the way to do it.
To be honest though, giving toys at Easter was my Mother-in-law's doing. The last 2 Easters have been at her house and she bought them. My son expects it now and why not, if we give gifts and decorate for our Saviors birth, how much more so should we for His Sacrafice and our Redemption!

Hope I wasn't too preachy and don't offend anyone - just explaining how it is at our house.

 

[disneymom3]

My most expensive item was for DDs dress which I bought for $8 at the American Girl Benefit sale last year. And she has chicken pox so we didn't even go to church.

I think I spent at most $10 on each kid's basket. They each got a kite so that was $5 each right there. Most of the other stuff is random little things I got at Target after Christmas at 75% off. Got the candy at 50% off at Aldi on Friday. (What a deal!!)

Pork loin we are having with cranberries, orange juice and honey in the crockpot. All of those were either in the freezer or cupboard. We'll also have salad, $1 at Aldi and Hawaiin rolls $1.79 at Aldi. I love that store!

 

[marcyinPA]

Wow- thanks everyone for posting!
Wanted to comment on the Easter is another Christmas thing: As Christians (Catholic), Easter is actually a bigger deal than Christmas. We begin with Lent where we deny ourselves for 40 days and after Holy Week where we follow Christ during his last days - its time to celebrate the Ressurection of our Lord!! So we think gifts and candy and parties , feasting if you will, are the way to do it.
To be honest though, giving toys at Easter was my Mother-in-law's doing. The last 2 Easters have been at her house and she bought them. My son expects it now and why not, if we give gifts and decorate for our Saviors birth, how much more so should we for His Sacrafice and our Redemption!

Hope I wasn't too preachy and don't offend anyone - just explaining how it is at our house.

While I totally agree with you on Easter being a bigger day for Christians than Christmas, I have a hard time with gift giving on Easter. The eggs and bunnies and all that are all symbols of new life, and are traditional for that reason. But gift giving for Easter, in MHO, is the work of retailers trying to make money. I'm not talking about sidewalk chalk and jump ropes. I'm talking about the pages and pages of toy ads that come in the Sunday paper before Easter. When I was a kid (not THAT long ago!), we got candy and some bubbles or something in our baskets. I don't remember there being toy ads for Easter!

My family gives gifts for Christmas because it symbolizes the gifts that were given to Jesus by the three kings or wise men. I think Christmas has gotten out of control too...buy this and need that and have to have this and that. It's all over the ads and t.v.

I think it's a struggle not to get caught up in all of that commercialism, both at Christmas and at Easter, and not forget the actual meaning of both holidays.

But, everyone has their own ideas and viewpoints, and that's what makes the world go 'round, as they say!

 

[sndtrklvr]

Okay I just saw this and figured it was a good way to see how much I did spend. My daugher is definitely the pricier of the two as I have to buy her clothes. My son is clothed by neighbors hand me downs.

DD 9
From the EB
Easter Barbie (asks for it every year, I was surprised this year but, hey, glad to keep her playing with dolls) 10.00
My little pet shop Spring egg 4.19
Webkinz 6.95
Assorted egg stuffers from Dollar Tree and the Dot-- $11
Candy -- $6.00

EB Total: @$37.73

from us
Two outfits from Justice for Girls including sneakers $50 (thats it for new clothes for Spring).

For church
New dress and sweater -- $29

DS 4
From the EB
Power Rangers set of figures $4 (from disney store closing)
Carnivore -- $8
Assorted stuffers from Dollar Tree/the Dot -- $7
Candy -- $6

From us
Big Carnivor -- $8 (on sale at TRU)

For Church $0 -- complete outfit from hand me downs
Total $33

My father is taking us out to eat. I bought him some nuts and chocolates for $10

 

[disneydreamin247]

I spent about $70 or $80. There is a great dollar store here that has TONS of quality Disney merch. The bulk of DS basket came from there and was less than 11 bucks with tax! The rest came from Walmart and the Disney Store.