Posted by: John S Kiernan

Easter is much more than an occasion to break out your Sunday best or hop into a bunny costume. It is a day of great religious significance for the roughly 71% of Americans who classify themselves as Christians, marking the resurrection of Jesus. And it actually takes place twice most years because of differences in the Western and Orthodox calendars.

Easter is also a big donation day for U.S. churches, thanks to the year’s highest attendance rates. It’s a significant revenue-driver for companies in the candy business. And it’s a source of divisiveness for those who feel strongly about the best way to eat a chocolate bunny or the best filling for a chocolate egg.

To help you better understand all aspects of Easter, WalletHub analyzed everything from how flush the Easter Bunny is feeling this year to how much candy and rabbit meat we eat. You can check out all the Easter factoids that we found in the infographic below. And that is followed by a Q&A with leading experts on the holiday’s religious significance and commercialization. Happy Easter!

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Embed on your website<a href="http://ift.tt/2ouR2il; <img src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/posts/34569/2017-easter-by-the-numbers-v4.png" width="" height="" alt="" /> </a> <div style="width:px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="http://ift.tt/2nYxYVu; Ask the Experts: Is Easter More Resurrection or Retail?

We posed the following questions to a panel of leading religious and consumer studies scholars. You can find their bios and responses below.

1. What tips do you have for celebrating Easter on a budget?
2. What are some of the big money wasters on Easter?
3. Has Easter become too commercial?
4. What money-saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for the Easter Holiday?

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• Chekitan Dev Marketing Professor at the School of Hotel Administration in the SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell University
• Casey Newmeyer Assistant Professor of Marketing, Design and Innovation at Case Western Reserve University
• Katherine B. Hartman Chair of the Marketing Department, Director of Assessment in the College of Business and Faculty Senate Secretary at Ohio University
• Kelli Hollinger Lecturer and Director of the Center for Retailing Studies in the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University
• Kathleen Richard Director of the Hospitality & Tourism Management / Merchandising & Retail Management Program in the School of Business at Madonna University
• Elyria Kemp Associate Professor of Marketing and Bank One Endowed Professorship in Minority & Emerging Business at University of New Orleans
• Joel Reynolds Assistant Professor in the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Niagara University

Chekitan Dev Marketing Professor at the School of Hotel Administration in the SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell University What money-saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for the Easter Holiday? To lower your costs when using a hotel over the Easter holiday, here are 4 money-saving tips:

1. Pick a hotel in a lower season region like the Northeast, Midwest or Northwest where you might get better rates compared to hotels in Florida or the Caribbean, or a terrific hotel at great prices.

2. Check the hotel or brand’s website for direct booking or loyalty program member rates.

3. Look for an Easter package which can be cheaper than paying for all the components (room, transfers, brunch, Eastern egg hunt, etc.) separately.

4. Save on hotel Easter egg hunt party costs by carrying your own eggs (hard boiled and painted, or plastic eggs with a gift inside available at most party goods stores) with you to hide around the hotel for your family members to find. Be sure to put your family name on the eggs so as not to confuse them with those of other guests’, and “map” all the places where you have secreted your goodies so you can collect all the undiscovered ones after the hunt.

Casey Newmeyer Assistant Professor of Marketing, Design and Innovation at Case Western Reserve University What tips do you have for celebrating Easter on a budget? Make your Easter celebration more sustainable. Reuse baskets and plastic eggs from previous years that can be refilled. This is better for the Earth and your wallet. If you don't have eggs or baskets to reuse, avoid buying pre-arranged baskets or pre-filled eggs. Retailers and manufacturers can charge a premium for this compared to buying them separately and doing it yourself. What are some of the big money wasters on Easter? As I said above, the ready-made-products tend to have a much higher mark-up than the individual items. It only takes a few minutes to assembly these things yourself so save your money. Has Easter become too commercial? I think this is a discussion that solely depends upon your individual religious beliefs. Firms wouldn't sell the items if there was not demand for them. Everyone is free to celebrate every holiday, religious or not, in the way that they see it. If you don't think the items being sold are appropriate, don't buy them. Katherine B. Hartman Chair of the Marketing Department, Director of Assessment in the College of Business and Faculty Senate Secretary at Ohio University What tips do you have for celebrating Easter on a budget? The best advice is to spend your budget on items that will provide sentimental value for your family. Avoid buying commercial cards -- create your own personalized card and message. Avoid giving pre-packaged Easter gift baskets -- decorate glass storage jars and fill them with their favorite treats. What are some of the big money wasters on Easter? American consumers often buy decorations, tableware, glassware, and gifts that seem “perfect” for a particular holiday. Unfortunately, holiday-specific designs and motifs may only be perfect once a year. Left-overs get stored or discarded. Instead, buy products that can be transformed and reused into something that is “perfect” for every day. Has Easter become too commercial? Any holiday can be too commercial when we spend too much on buying and not enough time remembering. Take time to remember the reasons for the holiday. Spread that message to both friends and strangers. What money-saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for the Easter Holiday? Traveling is always more expensive when you do not plan ahead. Pack portable snacks instead of buying snacks at airports or gas stations. Compare hotel prices online. Find free events -- parks, open-air concerts, farmer’s markets, museums -- at your destination. Enjoy a picnic instead of an expensive restaurant. Kelli Hollinger Lecturer and Director of the Center for Retailing Studies in the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University What tips do you have for celebrating Easter on a budget? Outline your spending priorities and set a firm limit, instead of a ball-park goal. This specificity helps keep budget-conscious shoppers on track because the spending limit is clearly linked to your financial goals. What are some of the big money wasters on Easter? Value is in the eye of the beholder. While some families splurge on a dinner out or large gathering at home, others may prioritize new outfits for the kids’ annual picture with the Easter Bunny. Neither is a financial waste if it brings spending joy to the consumer. Savvy parents can likely save a few dollars if they assemble Easter baskets themselves, while curating a treat bag customized to their child’s unique interests. Has Easter become too commercial? Like Valentine’s Day and July 4th, each holiday provides a promotional occasion for retailers to reach customers. These tap into both nostalgic memories and Instagram-worthy aspirations that are easily commercialized. What money-saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for the Easter Holiday? Pack snacks or even real food for the road. Any Texas highway traveler knows that a stop at Buc-ee’s takes at least 30 minutes and costs $30 dollars, though they have the cleanest bathrooms and best beef jerky that make the stop worthwhile. Kathleen Richard Director of the Hospitality & Tourism Management / Merchandising & Retail Management Program in the School of Business at Madonna University What tips do you have for celebrating Easter on a budget? A good money saving tip for Easter basket candy, toys etc. is to re-cycle Easter baskets from year to year, instead of spending money each year on a basket -- buy one time and re-use from year to year. If you don't choose to do that, you can use canvas bags -- decorated for Easter with adhesive backed felt, etc., and then take the felt off to re-use. Older children like this also, since "baskets" may be "babyish," if you purchase plain canvas totes they can re-used for other purposes. A great budget idea for an Easter dinner is first to dine at home and assign your guests a dish to bring -- in that way you not only save money but you save your energy in the kitchen preparation so you can enjoy your guests. A ham is always a good idea since it is pre-cooked, easy to serve; however, dishes such as baked pastas are affordable and most everyone likes them. Macaroni and cheese as a side dish to the ham is also very affordable and most everyone enjoys it. Buying frozen vegetables in "bulk" packages is another good idea, since in bulk it is more affordable. If you are serving wine, purchasing "box wine" which serves more people and is more affordable than individual bottles. Many good wines are sold via "box." Purchase "store brand" soda pop -- lesser price and usually no difference in taste. For a hostess gift, purchase items such as cocktail napkins, candles, serving pieces etc. rather than candy or chocolate which is usually more expensive and not always welcomed due to diet restrictions, etc. What are some of the big money wasters on Easter?

1. Buying new Easter baskets each year.

2. Pre-filled Easter baskets -- usually very over-priced with little or no candy or toys once opened. Better to fill an empty basket with a mix of toys, eggs, or beauty products for older teens or adults.

3. Plastic "Easter grass" fillers for baskets not necessary and always thrown away.

4. Often Easter "brunches" at restaurants are overpriced just for that day, especially the "all you can eat" types.

5. Plastic Easter eggs -- usually thrown away after a hunt -- better to use other items, such as colored tissue paper stuffed with shredded newspaper.

Has Easter become too commercial? Unlike Christmas and Halloween, Easter is not as commercial, for the most part it still relates to a religious theme for most people -- and since Passover is usually around the same time, they are often celebrated in the same week. What money-saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for the Easter Holiday?

1. If you are traveling within your state or to a close state -- driving is always the most affordable, but don't forget other transportation such as train, "mega" buses which are routed with no or few stops. Also very affordable, as an example: from Detroit to Chicago around $20 person.

2. Often cruise lines and resorts offer special price packages for the holiday -- again a good money saver if you want to "get away."

3. Airlines often "overbook" on popular routes and times, if you are flexible, you can receive an airline credit for taking a different flight or time.

Elyria Kemp Associate Professor of Marketing and Bank One Endowed Professorship in Minority & Emerging Business at University of New Orleans What tips do you have for celebrating Easter on a budget? The first step to making sure you celebrate Easter on a budget is to create a budget. Determine how much you can spend and make a list of desired items. This will help minimize impulse purchasing. Some people ensure that they stick to their shopping list by paying cash only and leaving the credit cards at home. However, if a credit card is used, it might serve you well to think of it as a short-term loan and be prepared to pay it off the following month. What are some of the big money wasters on Easter? According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), Americans will spend more on Easter this year due to its later arrival this year than last year. With the advent of Spring, consumers may be in the frame of mind to splurge. Most consumers are projected to spend money on food and candy, and spending on apparel is expected to increase according to NRF data. Hopefully, consumers will head to discount stores and off-price retailers to save money. What money-saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for the Easter Holiday? Visit social media before you leave for your trip. Hotels and airlines are offering discounts, premiums and perks like free stays, upgrades, and airport lounge passes for engaging with them on social media. Consider tweeting something favorable about the hotel where you will be staying or uploading a fun picture on their Facebook page. Doing so may save you some dollars. Joel Reynolds Assistant Professor in the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Niagara University What tips do you have for celebrating Easter on a budget? Instead of buying the individual packaged candies, make your own treats. You can always make your own rice crispy treats or chocolate dipped pretzels, the kids will love making the treats and tasting as they go. Has Easter become too commercial? The retail giants have commercialized every holiday, Easter is no exception. What was once a deeply religious holiday is now more of a candy scavenger hunt for some. What money-saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for the Easter Holiday?

1. If you need to purchase a ticket to travel, make sure to book early;

2. Check often, as travel rates fluctuate;

3. For those who are driving, leave early and plan for traffic congestion. Over half your neighbors are travelling too.

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