Here are a few ideas for a Budget-Friendly Celebration
Purim is a joyful and festive holiday, but to keep that smile on your face the day after, it’s worth planning and budgeting your holiday expenses ahead of time. Here are some ideas to help you navigate the holiday with financial peace of mind.
Gift Baskets
During Purim, every home kitchen transforms into a production line for gift baskets. It’s worth preparing well for this operation:
Create an organized list of recipients. This way, you won’t forget anyone, and you’ll avoid preparing unnecessary extras.
Sort recipients by categories (family, close friends, neighbors, children, and so on), plan a menu for each type of basket. Based on this, prepare a shopping list of items to purchase.
To reduce costs, buy large packages and divide the contents among different baskets. Pay attention to package contents: sometimes packages of the same product at the same price contain different quantities. For example, one package might have 20 waffles while another has 25.
Sales aren’t always worthwhile. This is true throughout the year, and especially before Purim, which is full of special offers. Check carefully whether the sale matches your actual needs, and don’t forget that Passover is just around the corner.
Homemade delicacies and gifts can be more meaningful. Consider gift baskets you can prepare at home. They’re less expensive to make and give the recipient a more special feeling (individual cakes, cookies, and similar items). You can find plenty of ideas on various websites.
Costumes
Remember that costumes are worn for just a few hours, so it’s worth keeping in mind:
Don’t rush to buy:
Check home closets and you’ll probably find many items that can serve as costumes, including old clothing, makeup, and accessories.
Call older relatives: Consider borrowing a costume from friends, family members, or neighbors.
Secondhand costume fairs: Quite a lot of schools, communities, and thrift stores organize markets for secondhand costumes at especially affordable prices. Remember: last year’s butterfly princess can become your princess this year.
Make your own: We all know this deep down: there’s nothing like a costume we made ourselves. For older children, let them plan and create their own costume. You’ll be surprised to discover how much they enjoy it.
If you do decide to buy:
Compare prices, look at different types of stores, and research online.
If your child isn’t completely decided on the costume yet then don’t buy it just yet. Maybe instead of dressing as a zombie, they’ll decide to be a superhero?
Set expectations: Involve your children from the beginning. Build a budget together and align expectations.
Maybe you’ll get lucky just before Purim…
As Purim approaches, many stores sell remaining costumes and accessories at especially low prices. If the price is truly exceptional and these are accessories, you’re likely to use, consider purchasing part of next year’s costume this year.
Activities and Entertainment
There are many free or low-cost holiday events available. Check online or locally for where and when affordable or free activities take place, including parades, Purim markets, and similar events. It’s also worthwhile to check with local youth movements.
Most importantly: enjoy every moment of Purim, because as you well know, Passover is right around the corner.
