69% of Easter-celebrating Americans will spend less this year

With Easter Sunday around the corner, the personal finance website WalletHub today released its Easter Survey, which found that 69% of Americans who celebrate the holiday plan to spend less on Easter this year than they did in 2022.

To find out which cities promise the most egg-citing time on April 9, WalletHub compared the 100 largest cities across 12 key metrics, ranging from candy and chocolate shops per capita to the city’s Christian population, according to the report.

Easter Facts & Stats – Church, Candy & Cash

$24 Billion: Total Easter-related spending expected in 2023 ($192 per person celebrating).
$3.3 Billion: Projected Easter spending on candy.
$49,000: Price of the world’s most expensive chocolate Easter bunny.
78%: Share of people who eat chocolate bunnies’ ears first.
60%: Share of parents who plan on sending Easter baskets to their children after they’ve moved out.

Easter Survey Key Stats

Inflation has a big impact. Nearly half of Easter observers expect inflation to impact their Easter spending this year.
Some people are decreasing donations. 28% of Easter-celebrating Americans plan to donate less than the usual amount to their church this Easter.
Taxes don’t matter as much for church donations. Nearly 70% of people say they don’t consider the tax benefits when making religious donations.
Religious organizations will benefit from tax refunds. 21% of people say they will donate some of their tax refunds to a religious organization.
Many people lack financial confidence. 44% of Americans don’t feel confident about their finances heading into spring.

Experts Suggestions

What tips do you have for celebrating Easter on a budget?

“The crucial aspect is to prepare in advance. Generally, Easter decorations can be costly. Therefore, this year, it is recommended to be innovative and craft your decorations. This activity can be enjoyable, particularly if done with your children or family. Additionally, you can make your Easter goodies such as cupcakes and cookies instead of purchasing them. Instead of hosting an expensive dinner or eating out, you can opt to have a potluck or picnic with your family and friends, which is a fun and affordable alternative,” said Jing Li, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Texas Tech University.

“I fully recognize that many people simply do not have time to cook, but if at all possible, preparing homemade food will always be more economical than buying items pre-made. Baking is especially economical and also something that families can enjoy doing together. Or split the difference and make a cake from a cake mix, or muffins from a mix, which you still prepare, but are far less costly than sourcing from a bakery. Depending on the weather in your area, you may want to move outside and have a barbecue. Instead of roasting a leg of lamb or cooking a ham, make skewers that can be prepped and marinated the day before. Many people would not be disappointed to find any meat on the menu. Or consider serving less meat, as meat is especially expensive now,” said Claire Stewart, Associate Professor, at New York City College of Technology.

What are some of the big money wasters on Easter?

“Money wasters like decorations and candy are the biggest expenses. No one will remember your 2-foot wooden Easter bunny on the front porch welcoming you to the house. Also, candy is more expensive this year than ever. Think of alternatives like going to the dollar store or the party store and buying small trinkets to put in those eggs for the kids. For older kids, save the candy and put the dollar (or higher) in the egg. They will appreciate the cash more so than the candy, and it will save you shopping time,” said Kelly Ann Way, Associate Professor at, University of Arkansas.

“During holiday seasons like Easter, impulse buying is a typical way to waste money. Individuals are often in a festive mood and may be more inclined to spend money without proper consideration. It is essential to stick to your budget for the holiday period. Procrastinating shopping for Easter-related goods can also lead to paying higher prices,” said Jing Li, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, at Texas Tech University.

How will inflation impact Easter celebrations this year, if at all?

“As we all know, grocery prices are incredibly high right now. Planning how and where you observe the holiday will need careful planning if you intend to celebrate with a meal. Create a budget, research how much meal preparation will cost, and track your expenditures,” Stewart said.

“Two of the biggest Easter purchases are food and candy and with the costs of each, I expect we will see some people cut back on those two items. Avoid dying the eggs, try getting plastic eggs and decorating them. You can shop at the dollar stores and get supplies to decorate and the plastic eggs are cheaper than you can buy a dozen real eggs. If the ham is too expensive, think of alternatives like roasting a chicken, or Cornish hens or serving a less expensive fish. I think we need to get creative with our menus this year to avoid these high food costs. Search for coupons and promotions, switch to lower-priced brands (packer’s brands), and make sure to do some research on prices before you go shopping,” Way said.

Source: IRS