How a Reader Created This $44 Easter Basket for Under $2!
This week’s Happy Friday submission comes in from Hip2Save reader, Alicia.
I don’t have kids, but I do have a husband (who is a big kid), and I love doing holiday baskets for him. This year I’ve challenged myself to do a free (or almost free) Easter basket. I already had the perfect “basket” on hand, so I sourced the candy and other goodies using rewards dollars, coupons, and freebies!
Alicia did something so exciting, inspiring, and sweet (no pun intended) that we had to share her cleverness! You see, Alicia put this massive Easter basket together–and it only cost her a little over one dollar! 😮 Talk about frugal! I know I want to try something similar to this! Here’s how Alicia did it:
- Sweet Heat Skittles: Value: $2, Cost: FREE [Food Lion]. Food Lion sent a couple coupons to my loyalty card for $2 off of a candy purchase. Since the Skittles were on sale for $2, they worked out to be free!
- Cadbury Creme Eggs: Value: $2, Cost: FREE [CVS]. CVS sent me a $2 coupon for grocery items, and the chocolates were on sale for $2.
- Blue Diamond Almonds: Value: $2, Cost: FREE [CVS]. I purchased 2 cans of nuts while at CVS during a 2/$5 sale and used $5 in ExtraBucks to pay for them.
- Lindt Chocolate Bunnies: Value: $8, Cost: FREE [Kmart]. I bought these with my winnings from the Shop Your Way games. I also ordered 2 personalized ribbons for the bunnies for free.
- Russel Stover Chocolate Eggs: Value: $2, Cost: FREE [Rite Aid]. I had Rite Aid rewards that I used to cover the cost of the candy, and I also earned $1 in rewards from the purchase!
- Yankee Candle Jar Candle: Value: $11, Cost: $1 [Yankee Candle]. The Yankee candle was only $1 since I used the $10 off coupon that was recently available.
- Temptations Cat Treats: Value $7, Cost: FREE [Petsmart & Petco]. I put some cat treats in there since our fur babies get spoiled, too. 😸 I signed up for rewards at Petsmart and Petco, and both sent me coupons for free treats for my cat’s birthday.
- Easter Grass: Value: $9, Cost: FREE [Amazon]. The unexpected free addition was the Easter grass—I won it in an Amazon Bouncy Box giveaway!
- Cat Card: Value: $1, Cost: FREE [Walgreens]. I made a card using a picture of my cat for free at Walgreens. (I also have a new respect for anyone who takes pictures of animals for cards and they aren’t blurry LOL!)
Total Value: $44. Cost: $1 plus tax 🎉😱
All that said, I had to pay tax on a few things and $1 for the candle, but I doubt I paid over $2 for everything in this basket! I hope my hubby loves it and is so impressed by my frugal and strategic shopping that he shares with me!
A fully stocked Easter basket that cost next to nothing?! What a sweet score!
We love the idea of using loyalty rewards and freebies to create such a generous basket. It’s an incredible gift that costs next to nothing! We see someone is already eyeing up all the goodies. 😼
HAPPY FRIDAY!
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This is awesome! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
In theory it costed more as pharmacy rewards should still be treated as money. Nonetheless, great haul.
I agree. I always consider my extrabucks from CVS as money spent as I typically have to spend money on something to earn them. Once and awhile Cvs will give me “surpise” extrabucks though which is always nice.
I respectfully disagree. I only count it as money if it is actual cash out of my pocket. I can’t spend extra bucks anywhere else.
Totally agree about pharmacy rewards; you have to earn and use them (and need the products for which there are deals 🙄) in order to make pharmacy shopping worthwhile. However, CVS has been sending me emails with free ECBs on Saturdays for weeks—some days they send two emails with ECBs. Keep your eyes open if you were a hardcore CVS shopper who abruptly quit!
Some of the EB I used were sent in emails without any purchase. The only one I recall using that was from a purchase was $5 for buying Coke products, which I would have purchased anyway. Keep an eye out for emails with $2 EB. I’ve been getting them for weeks and paired them with sales for some great deals, not just for items in this basket.
Awesome…I’m doing an Easter basket for a 2-year-old who hasn’t been introduced to sweets yet…if anyone has suggestions for items I can use I would appreciate it.
No spill bubbles, cheerios, goldfish, stickers, bath toys, sunglasses, summer hat, swimsuit/trunks, Fisher price little people/toys, balls (big enough not to be a choking hazard), sidewalk chalk. I try to think of fun things they can use with summer coming up.
Hi-I did a candy free basket for my 2yr old grandkids with those bigger plastic eggs that come apart. I filled them w small items like single serve goldfish snacks or boxes of raisins. Non-edible stuff like fancy hair bows for a girl or hot wheels cars for a boy, small bouncy balls, socks, etc. I also tuck a book or two into the baskets, maybe a small stuffed animal or bottles of bubbles.
Crayola makes egg shaped crayons or chalk. I bought them for my niece. For people with younger children I’ve gotten those plastic eggs where they match the top to the bottom.
My daughter is now 5 but she usually gets art supplies, puzzles, bubbles and small toys. This year will be tiny Hatchimals since she wants eggs with animals inside.
Thank you all! I appreciate the suggestions.😊
Play dough
My daughter will also be 2 and I racked up at Dollar Tree! They carry many Crayola items. I got her a box of crayons, several Disney coloring books, Crayola washable finger paint, 2 art aprons (1 for art and the other for her play kitchen), Sesame Street magic paint coloring book (just uses water), stickers, and bubbles. They carry the paper grass filler for baskets too. Big Lots had a bunch of Gerber Organics on clearance so I grabbed a jar of puffs, melts and a pouch, for $2 so she can still enjoy a snack. I also got her several books, a Little People set, and a stuffed duck.
So far for our almost 2 yr old we have two Springlings; a Zoomer Bunny; The Littlest Bunny book/stuffed animal bundle; four pack of play doh eggs; two eggs that “hatch” in water; a Melissa & Doug puzzle; a few wack a packs; a couple small stuffed toys; and a Mickey washcloth (—the kind that open up in water).
Great job putting the basket together for close to free!
Thank you! It was fun to do!
Great job, and also adorable cat! Looks just like a smaller version of mine. I’m sure his fur-daddy will love the basket! Additionally, similar to an Easter egg hunt, I hide a few of my cat’s Temptation’s treats in a toy or other places where he goes all the time so he gets to experience “hunting” for his treats. Provides mental stimulation and he gets so excited that he found food on his own!
Thank you! And don’t let this picture fool you. My cat, Fang, is close to 20 pounds. He’s the only creature I know that the camera takes pounds away lol! I also try toys and games that will get him to hunt and be more active, but at 13 years old, he’s caught on to my tricks. 😹
Bubbles, any small outside toys, we tend to spend our summer at the pool so we do pool toys, swim suits. Play doh, sidewalk chalk, kids gardening tools. Snacks like goldfish, fruit snacks, coloring books, and crayons.
Cute basket! Is that a full size Yankee Candle? My store wouldn’t let me use a coupon on products that were on sale.. Last time I just got votives for like $1.
It’s a small jar. Usually price 10.99.
Great job on all the freebie finds; I know your DH will love his Easter basket (and your kitty will as well)!
Cute kitty!
So awesome Alicia!!
Thank you! It was so much fun to put together and I’ve added more since taking the pictures! I might need a bigger basket by the time Easter gets here.
Awww but the basket is awesome!
I better start my baskets soon cuz this makes me want to add some ppl to my list.
Love the cat card! Our cat gave a Christmas gift and it was a big hit 🤣.
I love this! Especially since you remembered your fur baby! 🙂
Off-topic question…I’m making a big purchase on Etsy and was wondering if anyone knew of any coupon codes that work on Etsy. Couldn’t find anything on Google.
Great basket and so clever!
For little ones, I always stock up on the little toys and non food fillers when they hit 70-90% off at target. I do a little egg hunt for my kids and the cousins and fill them with the clearance goodies! (I pack them away with decorations in a bin) I buy the confetti filled eggs you crack on each other too! The kids have a blast cracking eggs on each other and especially dad and love seeing what random toys or erasers they got. They look forward to cousin time as soon as Easter decor comes out!
Awesome, he’s going to love it! And pretty kitty!
Great job cvs just send me a free paparazzi and a 3/15 for candy and a 10/40 planning on getting my candy from there also, and the free bar from Kroger too , and making baskets for my 32,31,26,26 and my granddaughter and my step grandkids ! My birthday was Wednesday and my daughters informed me that they want a Easter egg hunt with prizes and they were sharing memories of when they were little – since for the past 10 yrs I was a caregiver for a 92 that took most of my time / now they want a Easter meal and the egg hunt – so, planning ! And since ulta send me a free lipstick and got so much goodies thank you great job and keep getting those freebies
What a beautiful cat you have.
Awesome basket and a cute kitty, too! Our cats get holiday treats as well. They each even have their own Christmas stocking!
I love that you do this as well!! I’ve given my honey a Easter basket the past 3 years and although he thinks I’m the biggest dork, I know he secretly loves it LoL 🤗. Last year I decided to give him a small basket for Thanksgiving and couldn’t find as many themed goodies to put into it for the specific holiday. 🍗
Oh and I hope your kitty enjoys the treats. So sweet!! I have 3 spoiled fur babies 😻😻