If you're looking for a way to have a frugal Easter, either because times are tight, or you feel that the excesses detract from the true meaning of the holiday, there are many things you can do. From preparing a simple, yet elegant Easter dinner to dyeing Easter eggs and creating a festive, homemade Easter wreath, this page will hopefully provide you some ideas to have a great holiday without breaking the bank. Read on to learn more information about how to have a cheap Easter.

Being frugal is trendy these days--for most people it's important to save money and stick to a budget, but there's also an environmental impact as well. By adopting the "reduce, reuse, recycle" philosophy, you not only save money, but reduce your footprint as well. Having a cheap Easter can also be a way to have a green Easter.

• Think about what the holiday means to you, and what you and your family hope to take away from the celebrations. If you have a clear idea of why the holiday is important to you, you'll be able to prioritize your time and treasure to match your goals.

• This is simpler with small children than with teens. Consignment shops, Craigslist, Freecycle groups, and friends and family are all great sources of gently used clothes that will be new to your child. If you'd like designer items, shop at thrift shops in upscale suburbs. With older children who are not comfortable with the thought of wearing "used" clothes, allow them a budget and suggest they purchase one new item to update an outfit they already own.

(Creative Commons photo by Meryl CA)

• The basket itself is probably reused from year to year. If you're looking for a new basket, why not try some of the great ideas on Mahalo's guide to How to Make Homemade Easter Baskets. Filling the Easter basket is another issue however, and can take some creativity to fill it economically.

1. Don't buy commercial "Easter grass". Use your paper shredder to shred colored paper to serve as the filler for your basket. You can compost the paper after you're done, so it will serve a dual purpose.
2. Consider making your own chocolate candies to fill the basket.
3. Keep an eye on the flyers that come with your newspaper in the weeks before Easter for deals on jelly beans, Peeps, and the like.

• Avoid the expense of store bought dye kits by using vinegar and food colors that you probably already have in your kitchen. For each cup of dye, combine 3/4 cup of boiling water with 1 tablespoon of vinegar, and several drops of food color. The longer you allow the egg to sit in the dye, the darker the color will become.

Pineapple Glazed Ham (CC photo by Matt Calder)

• You can economize on Easter dinner and still make a special meal. Try these tips to help you be a bit more frugal with your food dollars:

1. Planning ahead to buy items you'll need while they are on sale.
2. Consider making your mail meal a brunch rather than a dinner.
3. Rely more on homemade foods than convenience foods.
4. Check out what you already have in your pantry before planning your menu.

• You can enjoy Easter without running up debt by paying attention to your choices, and economizing where it makes sense for you and your family.

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• Introduction
• Step 1: Focus on the Meaning
• Step 2: Easter Wardrobe
• Step 3: Easter Baskets
• Step 4: Egg Hunt
• Step 5: Easter Dinner
• Conclusion