How to have a staycation | Alds

Plus there’s the cost if you get stuck and have to go into isolation for two weeks – possibly with children, where you can’t escape.

But on a positive note, the lack of travelling long distances over Easter could be thought of as a great opportunity to enjoy your own family at this time of year. Celebrating Easter at home on a staycation can be a really fun and rewarding way to spend more time, and spend less.

Here’s my tried and tested tips:

GOOD FRIDAY DINNER

I actually avoid the fish and chips shops on Good Fridays. The line-ups are out the door, and I always feel greasy and ‘meh’ after eating it.

A really easy Good Friday-friendly kids dinner – is a Fish Finger Pie. It is layers of mashed potato and cooked fish fingers, topped with cheese and cut into wedges. It’s cheap and rather yummy, especially when served with a good dollop of tomato sauce on top. Probably more suitable for the under-10s in the household – but give it a go.

BOARD GAME BATTLES

I recently taught my boys how to play poker – which is full of skills they will need to learn in life: patience and discipline. Instead of using money, we use those mini Easter eggs – so you know everyone is playing to win. We no longer play Monopoly in our household – let’s just say I myself have flipped the board in frustration and it is no longer spoken about.

Board games are a fantastic way to bond – get out the Scrabble to improve spelling, if you want to teach the kids how to how to plan ahead in life, grab the game Rummikub. Game Of Life is always fun – and for the ultimate in “learning to bulls—”, grab Balderdash.

You can pick up board games for the price of a burger and Coke and they will entertain you for years.

EASTER GIFTING IDEAS

You don’t need to buy your children their body weight in chocolate for Easter. Not only will you set them up for teeth and health issues but fancy Easter chocolate can get expensive.

Sure, buy the little kids an egg or two and a pair of pyjamas – but for older kids – a block of chocolate will set you back only about $3.

That’s pretty much all they need, it’s not like it is their birthday or Christmas. Winter Pyjamas you can grab from Kmart or Big W for about $20 per set.

Plus when it comes to an Easter outfit, don’t purchase anything with a duck or chicken on it – they will wear it for one single day and then it won’t fit them next year. Just dress them in their best little outfits – it will do!

EASTER FEASTING

Any time that you have a celebration dinner, you are going to pay big bucks for it. The best meal of the day (and the cheapest) is breakfast. So why not consider an Easter brunch celebration. Pancakes, fruit salad, waffles, scrambled eggs, french toast — all really easy and cheap ideas that can still be made special.

Remember that Easter is what you and your family make of it. We like to take things slowly at Easter, and just appreciate our own little family and spend quality time together. There aren’t too many holidays in the year where you get a chance to be able to do that – so grab it when it comes.

Jody Allen is the founder of mothers’ network Stay At Home Mum. Find her at @StayHomeMum on Facebook, @jodyallen.stayathomemum on Instagram, @JodyAllen_SAHM on Twitter