General

Re: Frugal Ideas for Easter Baskets?

dolly77 — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 00:29:02 GMT

Here's the total:

~Book (The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo, in case you were wondering): $9.99

~Musical toothbrush (plays Star Wars theme): $7.47

~Turkey call: $9.89

~Toothpaste: $2.97 (a necessity, anyway)

~Scripture pen $2.47

~Nascar car (#25 Casey Mears): $4.97

~Electric pencil sharpener: $12.86 (believe me, this, too, is a necessity at our house!)

~Candy: approx $8.00

I guess that seems like a lot but we only have one child. I know what you're thinking but he's not spoiled! A spoiled child would expect or demand these things and receive them ungraciously and thanklessly. Our son is sweet-tempered and humble. He also knows his greatest Easter gift if the gift of salvation from Jesus Christ.

Re: Frugal Ideas for Easter Baskets?

My Family's Interests — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:43:11 GMT

I always like watching Ben Hur at Easter. Haven't seen the passion. Remembered that I bought stickers for the kids for easter too. Dollarama had Thomas ones. so with the puzzles, books, stickers and a bit of candy they should be happy! I put away the themed holiday kids books like xmas ones etc. So need to bring out the Easter ones.

Re: Frugal Ideas for Easter Baskets?

Lynnea Berr — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:55:23 GMT

There are lots of free coloring pages on the internet for different holidays, and I know there are many sites out there that have Easter pages. There are probably also dinosaur coloring pages available. If you can't get the dinosaur, try for the next best thing. This may or may not be too juvenile since I don't know your son's age. You might be able to get a dinosaur shaped pancake maker, or make one from a tuna can, if you are handy at that sort of thing.

What about Easter cookies?

Lynnea the Dogmom

Re: Frugal Ideas for Easter Baskets?

latenightleader — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:05:39 GMT

Julie-

Just a thought from a "veteran" mom- my 7 kids are 20 to 1- we'll be at church several times for Holy Week, they will be awed by the service on Good Friday as the lights slowly are turned off and we depart in silence, and the trumpeting music on Easter. Some go to Christian school-

I think it's fine if the candy is from the bunny, and the toys are from Santa, they "get it" very quickly anyway, by the time they are three and in Sunday School, they know the story and the gift of Jesus. Candy from the bunny is a bonus! Just a thought, I don't stress about the secular parts of any holiday anymore, one less thing to worry about.

Re: Frugal Ideas for Easter Baskets?

Luvd_Lioness — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:49:17 GMT

One thing that my ex-nieces used to get for Easter... the 1/2 eggs (the kind where you fill your own), some would have some candy in but in a few they would contain: a wooden cross (popsicle sticks cut), a piece of cloth to symbolize his garments being sold, a thorn (can't remember if it was in the shape of a crown or not), silver wrapped candy (to represent the betrayal), and a rock (for the tomb). They always thought they were winners when they got those!

dolly77:
"The Passion" alone (It's too intense for son to watch now; maybe when he is 12)

@ 33, I still feel it's too intense! but it's very moving

Re: Frugal Ideas for Easter Baskets?

Carmina — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:39:31 GMT

In Argentina stores sell eater eggs. They are made of thick chocolate, they are hollow and inside it gas some small candies. My Mom would buy one for me and one for my brother. You could buy some small ones like the palm of your hand and some big ones like footballs.

Now we go to my mother in law. They do the easter egg hunt for the kids and they get lost of cheap candy which I hate and usually throw away later (except for chocolate). I wish they had a devotional or some spiritual thought. We don't buy anything else for our kids. I made easter eggs once like in Argentina. Maybe I will try it again?

By the way, I have just called my in laws we are now having a spiritual thought ! yes!

Re: Frugal Ideas for Easter Baskets?

juju_mommy — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:28:43 GMT

Pat:

It's funny how things change. When my kids were little, they got candy in their Easter baskets and that's all. There were a few kids they knew (but not many) who got gifts of some sort at Easter and they were the spoiled ones.

Great point Pat! I am 25 and all we ever had in our Easter baskets were candy and eggs that we dyed ourselves (not that I'm complaining at all)! But when we were growing up we didn't get a lot of extras. Our big gifts came at Christmas and Birthday time (and it was never a $400 video game, I can tell you that) and the rest of the year we didn't get things like candy, soda or new clothes. Those were special treats. So, for us, a basket of candy by itself was a big deal.

But now that I am a parent myself (though my daughter is only 1 right now), I plan on doing things a little differently. As my kids get older, I may put some candy in but I'd rather buy them healthier things like fruit snacks to balance it out. Also, I want to always make sure that the focus is on Jesus Christ rather than just the Easter Bunny (no offense intended to anyone else on the board). When my kids get older, I like the idea of getting them Easter presents such as a new bible, a book, a Bible case, etc. so that they are reminded of the true meaning of the celebration.

For instance, this year I got her (again, she's only 1 so it's a small basket):

- Cheerios container

- New Socks (needed them anyway)

- A Book of Bible Stories for Mothers and Daughters

- New Sandles for Summer (neede them anyway)

- Sippy Cup (needed a new one)

God bless,

Julie

Re: Frugal Ideas for Easter Baskets?

latte4me2day — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:10:54 GMT

when i was a kid, i got a choclate bunny and a new dress, hand sewn by mom in secret, i cant sew well enough to make clothes, and i couldnt afford a new outfit(even new to us!) for either of the kids, but life goes on, you do what you can do and you enjoy your friends and family and build new traditions with your own

Re: Frugal Ideas for Easter Baskets?

babs — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:03:04 GMT

I had forgotten about the Resurrection eggs. Thanks for the reminder. Now i have to find them. Babs

Re: Frugal Ideas for Easter Baskets?

dolly77 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:46:01 GMT

Thanks for the ideas, everybody!

Ariana, my son is 8yrs. old and your idea about outdoor/spring stuff is great.

Pat, I'm glad you clarified b/c I thought you were initially implying that my child was spoiled b/c he was---gasp!---receiving more than just candy in his basket. I'm 36 and I never got more than candy or some plastic jewelry in my baskets, either. I remember the year I informed my mom that I would like the Easter bunny to bring me a Wonder Woman doll---she quickly disabused me of that notion!

I view my son's basket like his Christmas stocking---I like to fill it with little doodads. He has a nut allergy so there is not a lot of candy he can have. As for chocolate, unless it's Hershey's, he usually can't have it. So he will be getting a few Hershey's Cookies 'n' Creme bars and a box of Hershey's Whoppers Robin's Eggs.

We use the same basket every year. I bought him a really nice, durable one when he was a baby. I recycle the grass every year, can't remember the last time I bought grass. We always boil and dye eggs b/c it is something we enjoy doing together. Our Easter traditions also include reading from the Bible and having our son tell us the Easter story using "Resurrection Eggs". We watch the "Jesus" movie together and then hubby and I watch "The Passion" alone (It's too intense for son to watch now; maybe when he is 12). Church on Sunday and dinner with family afterwards.

Wishing you all a blessed Easter and a happy spring!

Re: Frugal Ideas for Easter Baskets?

babs — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:51:03 GMT

Just a note of warning, Be careful with the plastic eggs that come apart. I had a child put one half of an egg in his mouth and get it stuck. It was not easy to get it out. Thank G'd that his nose wasnt blocked or he could have breathed.So keep and I on the kids with them. Babs

Re: Frugal Ideas for Easter Baskets?

jennylyn — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:26:59 GMT

For my DS, I did get a little candy (a chocolate bunny and some jelly beans and chocolate eggs for inside the plastic eggs). I also got him a bubble gun and sidewalk chalk plus a ball for outside. I also have a couple cars I might put in-he's car crazy! We are not doing huge baskets, just a few little things. My DD is just getting a little stuffed chick and a few plastic eggs with nothing in them-she's only 8 months old. But DS will want to know why the Easter bunny didn't bring anything for her so I did spend a few dollars for her too.

I am very excited for Easter this year! My DS is old enough to understand it a bit . We are going to dye eggs tomorrow and do an Easter egg hunt Sunday plus the Easter bunny stuff. Then of course, family dinner and spending time with extended family. It's going to be a lot of fun!!

Re: Frugal Ideas for Easter Baskets?

TizzyLizzy — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:38:34 GMT

Just a note - Goodwill has a million baskets and the one here in town was selling them for .25 each this week. They also had bags of cellophane grass for .23. I bought a small, cute basket with a stuffed bear attached to it, still for a quarter, for dd17. I've been buying a few pieces of candy as they go on coupon at Walgreens and will add some gum, fruit snacks and other more-healthy-than-candy stuff, but not too much. When you get to be 17 and have a job, you ought to buy your own goodies! Liz

Re: Frugal Ideas for Easter Baskets?

My Family's Interests — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 03:58:52 GMT

When I was young we just got an easter bunny and the same with the other kids. Kids are using the baskets from last year to hunt for the plastic easter eggs with candy inside (in the house) plus a couple of extra goodies. I think I have some books from value village or a discount book store for them. My mil gave me some of those sugar easter eggs which will go into the plastic eggs (recycled from last year). don't do hard boiled eggs because no one eats them. They will get goodies toys and candy from the grandparents and easter event at the local park on sunday.