Cheerful Frugality Reassesses
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Deep breath. Christ is risen. And in my family's observance, the discipline of Lent and the celebration of Easter come to a close.
Whew.
It's tempting to gloss along to the next new challenge. But cheerful frugality works best when you can take a moment to reassess.
How can I do this better next time? Where did we run lean? Where can we trim the fat?
This spring I read Doris Jantzen Longacre's Living More With Less. I cooked less food. Ham slices instead of a whole ham, a bowl of berries instead of pie. We had fewer leftovers from Easter dinner and more guests. A good thing all around.
Easter clothes were still problematic. Too many shoes for one little girl's dress, bows acquired by both me and Grandma. What to wear? In the meantime, the boy grew an inch too tall for his pants. Next year, I'll plan the clothes as carefully as I do the food.
We stuffed eggs with candy someone found in the hall closet. What a nice surprise--no trip to the store needed. Good. Next year, remember to forget where I hid the candy.
We dyed fewer eggs, due to rising costs, but spent more time on those we did decorate. We used watercolor paints from the art cabinet instead of a fancy egg kit.
I still overfilled the baskets with toys. Why 3 DVDs when 1 would do? So what if they only cost $1? Kids as usual unimpressed with the softest stuffed bunnies in the world.
another year, another opportunity to hone my frugal skills. What worked for your Easter, and what do you hope to change for next year?
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9 Responses to “Cheerful Frugality Reassesses”
March 24th, 2008 at 5:58 am
Back in February, I dug through the bins of handed down clothes and shoes, and for three girls, I only had to buy one pair of shoes and three pairs of tights – the rest were already “in stock”. Before I got organized with my bins, I never would have found three outfits and two pairs of shoes that fit, and would have bought all new! I’m inspired to start inventory on summer clothes now!
March 24th, 2008 at 7:35 am
I was pleased to see that my three year old daughter got so many compliments on her elaborate (and super sweet) Easter dress yesterday, and I had been able to pick it up at a twice a year consignment sale for $8.50. The boys were able to wear clothes that they already had, as were Eric and I.
While we did spend more than we usually spend on Easter baskets (just a bit), we bought fewer things this year. We didn’t feel the need to load up baskets with cheap plastic fillers, but rather got them all larger things that they would actually enjoy and play with.
March 24th, 2008 at 10:15 am
I did the same thing- thinking how I could do this better next year. I also struggle with the excess in the baskets. This year I was smarter and more practical though. I resisted the stuffed bunny temptations, but bought three coloring books instead
Always a learning experience!
March 24th, 2008 at 11:19 am
I liked what you did for Easter and it sounds familiar. I try to do less but still make it nice. If you’d like, read about my simple Easter on my blog at ivyleaguehomemaker.blogspot.com.
March 24th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
We really enjoyed doing Easter baskets on Saturday (the day of the big Egg Hunt) instead of on Easter morning this year. Sunday morning was very relaxing – we had time before church to read the Resurrection story and eat a yummy breakfast. I bought a few more toys this year – inexpensive, Spring things like kites and bubbles – and much less candy!
March 24th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
My girls were recently flower girls in a wedding. Their dresses and shoes worked perfectly for easter, so easy money saved there.
I did not go overboard on the baskets, I like to include practical fillers (toothbrushes, socks, etc.). The candy was practically free from Walgreens deals also. I purchased a few other fun things at Dollar General, and that was it!
Alyssa
March 26th, 2008 at 7:28 am
I bought those plastic pails at Walmart for 1.00 each for my 3 boys, then, every week for about 6 weeks prior, I went to Walgreens and shopped the Easter coupon items of toys and candy, most were 3/$1.00. I spent approx $12.00 total between my 3 boys and the baskets were full and overflowing with little goodies. In another week or so after they quit playing with the baskets they will be whisked away to storage for next year.
March 26th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Instead of using the egg dyeing kit from the store I decided to try my paste food coloring that I have for cake decorating. Absolutely hands down the most beautiful eggs we’ve ever done. Same method with the hot water and white vinegar but the colors were so vibrant. We blew out a dozen white eggs and dyed them to save from year to year. I crazy glued thread to the tops in loops and hung them from my small jasmine in a pot. I put the pot in the middle of the table which was covered with a white cloth, then a black & white toile sheer curtain from 2 apartments ago that I found in the closet then a black runner. So pretty and all it cost was a dozen eggs.
Kids wore clothes they already had in the closet & baskets were more modest than last year. They just don’t need it and don’t notice one way or the other.
A great Easter all around and Meredith – you helped inspire my new way of thinking!
March 26th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
oh, I LOVE that book! Have you seen/read her companion cookbook, More with Less (cookbook)? That is my most used cookbook and I love the ideas for leftovers at the end of every chapter.
I kept things really simple for my 2 year old daughter. We had some plastic eggs already and I just bought some cheap Easter candy and then we tucked them in the yard Saturday afternoon. She had sooooo much fun looking for the eggs and opening them that we felt quite justified in not having an Easter basket of goodies the next day.
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