This upcoming Easter holiday falls well before payday. For those of us who don’t celebrate Easter as a religious holiday but get time off anyway, here are some ways to get through the weekend without breaking bank.

1. Catch up on series/read a book.

Life is busy. Sometimes you just don’t get around to watching the latest series that your colleagues have been raving about. Sign up for Netflix (the first month is free) and chill in front of the television with a huge bowl of popcorn (a cheap and healthy-ish snack) while you get lost in a fictional world.

Alternatively you can pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read and chill on the couch with a cup of tea and read the day away.

The above activities are even better when there it’s chill outside.

2. Go for a walk/run/hike.

Head to your nearest park or, if you’re near the ocean, go for a walk or run on the beach. Or get on your hiking boots and be at one with nature.

That way, the day you spent as a couch potato watching series or reading won’t make you feel too badly about your life choices.

Remember to keep a bottle of water with you to stay hydrated.

3. Host a bring-and-eat or have a pizza party.

It is fun having everyone over at your house and eating good food, but it can cost a lot. Have you seen the price of meat per kilo? However, if everyone brings a little bit of something you’re left a table full of food that all can dig into.

Alternatively, gather your cheeses, toppings, and get some bread dough at a supermarket (just ask for some at the bakery counter and you’ll get a large piece for about R15) and host a build-a-pizza party. If the guests all bring  cheese and a variety of toppings you can get creative. (PLEASE NO PINEAPPLE OR BANANAS.) This is also a great way to keep kids occupied.

4. Make and eat Easter treats from scratch.

Provided you have the ingredients in your store cupboard, you can whip up something delicious and Easter-like. Make some hot cross buns, make your own pickled fish, and indulge in yummy chocolate Easter eggs.

Most supermarkets will also have the above on sale because they know you want to have yumminess this weekend.

A treat I particularly love is the marshmallow Easter egg s’more. It’s quick to make, not heavy on the pocket and fun for the whole family. The only problem is, it’s so easy you might end up eating too many of them.

If you’ve bought your hot cross buns and you’ve got many left you can use them up by making a delicious hot cross bun and butter pudding. Basically bread and butter pudding but using your leftover buns instead of bread.

5.Other things.

Visit family.

Go for a drive and have fish and chips (Hout Bay is good to go to if you’re in Cape Town).

Have breakfast or coffee at places that have good specials for the long weekend.

Stay-at-home pamper day.

 

How will you be spending your long weekend? Tell me in the comments section below.