5 tips to an Egg-cellent Easter without blowing your budget.
Easter is fast approaching. Shops are lining their shelves with chocolate eggs and hot cross buns, and school holidays are just around the corner. What are your plans for Easter?
A recent study by Roy Morgan and Australian Retailers Association found that ‘over four million Australians are planning a trip away’. ‘Those aged 35-49, and most likely to have a family in tow, are set to spend an average of $2,000 on their Easter holidays.’
According to the same study Australians will spend on average $100 each on things like hot cross buns, Easter eggs and chocolate.
With all this spending how do we make sure we have an Egg-cellent Easter without blowing the budget? Check out our 5 tips below.
- Set your money plan.
Having a plan for how you will spend your money this Easter will help you buy only what's needed. It's a good idea to list everything you intend to buy and how much it will cost. You can then use that list to track your spending as you go to help you stay within your budget. Our Davidson Institute money diary and budget planner can help you.
- Shop around or make your own Easter treats.
If you decide to buy your Easter treats, make a comprehensive shopping list and do your research to make sure you're getting value for money. In some cases, it may make sense to leave your shopping until the last minute when stores are trying to get rid of the stock at lower prices. Alternatively, have you considered making your own? Not only are there lots of recipes online, but cooking can also be a great activity for the whole family. And who doesn't love a fresh, homemade gift?
- Keep an eye out for travel deals.
Let’s be honest, travelling over the holiday can be expensive. If you are planning on travelling over the holiday period, keep an eye out for travel specials. It may also be worth considering travelling at different times of the day to try to avoid the peak, often more expensive, times. Understanding your budget before booking is important in helping ensure you don’t overspend.
- Ask everyone to ‘bring a plate’.
If you are playing host this year, consider asking everyone to contribute by bringing a plate of food to share. This can also allow you to enjoy the lead up and the day itself by having more time. Some may also choose to hold a brunch event rather lunch or dinner to save on preparation time and costs.
- Get creative
With Easter hat parades, Easter outfits, Easter gift baskets - there is so much temptation to spend money. But with a little bit of preparation and inspiration from websites such as Pinterest, you can get crafty and make your own for often a fraction of the price in stores. Save money next Easter by re-using these new creations!
Lisa Gissing
From Melbourne to Perth to the Tiwi Islands, from Launceston to Port Moresby, Lisa has helped many individuals, communities and businesses to build financial confidence for over ten years. From developing and delivering face to face workshops, to facilitating webinars and creating educational tools, she is committed to delivering education with impact, flexibility and sensitivity tailored for each audience. She is responsible for delivering on Westpac’s Reconciliation Action Plan financial education commitment. In 2016 she was runner up in the Westpac Women of Influence Awards recognising her work around Inclusion and Diversity. Her story was featured on the Westpac Careers website as an example of people helping people and she is also here to help you.
