Celebrating the Easter holidays on a budget

Chocolate eggs, deals, and "shrinkflation"

With the rising costs of cocoa and sugar, you might find that your favourite Easter eggs are smaller, yet more expensive, this year as ‘shrinkflation’ hits the Easter eggs. When shopping, to ensure you get the best value, look at the price per 100g instead of the physical size of the box. This value is usually printed in small text on the supermarket shelf label, beneath the main price. By comparing this metric for your favourite treats in-store, you can easily determine the most cost-effective choice.

Many supermarkets are also offering deals through their loyalty programs, often including personalised rewards based on your shopping history. By comparing the standard and loyalty prices of popular Easter eggs, consumers can easily determine the best value, especially when purchasing multiple items.

Information below correct as of 23/03/26

However, we can’t forget supermarket own brand eggs! Due to volatility of branded goods prices and quality, 2026 has seen a consumer shift toward premium own-brand supermarket ranges. These offer superior quality, often scoring higher in blind market tests, with more stable prices.

Best deals on the Easter roast

For 2026's budget-friendly Easter roast, supermarket competition offers great savings. Aldi is leading this with its "Super Six" promotion, cutting essential roasting vegetable prices to just 15p per unit/pack. Running from Tuesday, March 31st, to Saturday, April 4th, this five-day initiative allows families to buy most fresh produce for under £1.00.

Alternatively, if you want a one-and-done solution, many of the supermarkets also offer more ‘premium’ dine-in deals to emulate a cost-saving experience alternative to dining out. For example, Morrisons are positioned as the market leader, offering a full British leg of lamb roast with all the trimmings and dessert for £23.82 (feeds six), which is less than £4 per person. Here’s a breakdown of some supermarket dine-in deals:

Information above correct as of 23/03/26

And we can’t forget the hot cross buns! Interestingly, recent independent testing of over 400 varieties has shown that budget-friendly options often surpass their luxury rivals. A prime example is Asda’s Exceptional Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns. Priced at just £1.40 for a pack of four, they scored 77% in a blind taste by Which?, the same high rating as the M&S luxury offering, but for £1.10 less.

Keeping the kids entertained this Easter break 

Regarding dining deals, the 2026 Easter school break is looking good for families, with lots of "Kids Eat Free" or "Kids Eat for £1" deals popping up everywhere in England – even in supermarket and homeware store cafes.

Supermarket and retail cafes are always a solid bet so we’ve created a quick breakdown:

Information above and below correct as of 23/03/26 

If it’s a restaurant experience you’re after, we also have a breakdown of some of the deals we have found here too:

It’s important to remember that lots of these "Kids Eat Free" offers only run at certain times – think weekday afternoons at Bella Italia or just Sundays at The Real Greek. So, if you're a parent keeping an eye on the budget, you'll need to pencil those dates in when you're sorting out your holidays.

For activities during the holidays, these can vary by region. The 2026 Easter break in England offers a wealth of regional entertainment that leverages natural landscapes, historical sites, and community-funded festivals. The National Trust and English Heritage remain the primary providers of low-cost, high-engagement activities, with trails and hunts typically priced at around £3.50 per participant. As well as this, you can often find free or cheap family activities within local community centres, libraries, shopping centres, farms and more! Some ideas of popular activities to look out for include:

• Egg or hunny hunts and trails
• Family adventure trails/walks
• Easter craft workshops
• Discounted movie showings
• ‘Meet the animal’ workshops

If the weather turns (it is England, after all!), there is always something to DIY at home. For example,

• Baking: Whilst spring cleaning the kitchen, you may come across some ingredients you can use with the family to create all manner of sweet treats! And let’s not forget using easter eggs to create inspired baked creations too.
• Potato printing: Cut a potato in half, carve a design, and make your own Easter cards.
• Shaving foam eggs: Use a tray of shaving foam and food coloring to create "marbled" decorative eggs.
• Movie night: Skip the cinema and have a "Wonka" or "Peter Rabbit" marathon with homemade popcorn.
• Paper crafts: Using materials from around the house, create homemade cards or Easter decorations

Easter decorations and gifting

This Easter, it looks like shoppers are really gravitating towards non-chocolate gifts. The main reasons seem to be that sweets are getting more expensive and people want gifts that are more lasting, educational, or offer better sensory play regarding toys.

Places like The Works, B&M, and Poundland are the go-to for these budget-friendly "basket stuffers," with most items coming in under a fiver.

The Works is doing particularly well in the creative space, offering various "Make & Create" kits that are great for hands-on fun. Here’s a breakdown of some offers we’ve seen:

Information above correct as of 23/03/26

These can help keep the kids entertained, and can be awesome gifts to friends and family too.

Saving tips and timing

English consumers are shopping differently, and what was once hidden secrets, has now become a lot of people’s day to day tactics to get a good saving. People now engage in tactical shopping methods, ranging from digital cashback to understanding supermarket reduction schedules. These will also be key to achieving a low-cost Easter without compromising the fun or quality.

When it comes to digital discounts and cashback, TopCashback and PlusSave offer significant secondary savings that can be stacked with existing supermarket loyalty deals. For example, using a TopCashback referral link in February or March 2026 can yield a £10 to £20 sign-up bonus, which can be triggered by a £10 spend at retailers like Tesco, Asda, or Sainsbury’s. Here’s some examples:

Information above correct as of 23/03/26

A lot of your favourite retailers may also be listing ‘Surprise bags’ on TooGoodToGo. This is a platform allowing shops and restaurants to list unused stock for the day in bundles often at a very low price. For example, Aldi and M&S often list ‘Surprise grocery bags’ for less than £4/5 which have a range of different items. The same goes with cafes, restaurants and some independent businesses. These are often securable on the day of purchase, and can only be collected at a certain time. While it may not provide the same level of ease or convenience as your weekly shop, it can often be a good pick-up, and who doesn’t love a surprise!

Another tactic many shoppers use is by getting to know their local shops yellow sticker and reduction schedule. Timing is the most critical variable in Easter grocery savings. Because supermarkets are legally required to close on Easter Sunday (April 5, 2026), the preceding Saturday evening (April 4) represents the peak window for yellow sticker reductions.

Information below correct as of 23/03/26

Former retail staff indicate that the absolute lowest reductions typically occur 1 to 2 hours before closing on a Saturday. For items that can be frozen – such as roasting joints, bread, and some prepared sides – this window offers a way to secure a luxury Easter feast for a fraction of the standard cost.

We hope these tips can help you nail the 2026 Easter holidays on a budget with a value-first mindset. These easy tips ensure a fun, affordable, and inclusive Easter celebration. Happy Easter!