Almost half (45%) of Brits say that the cost of living crisis will have an impact on their Easter celebrations this year, according to a study from TopCashback.

More than a third (36%) of those won’t be celebrating Easter at all with financial struggles being cited as one of the most popular reasons for cutting back. A quarter (24%) of those who don’t plan to celebrate say it’s because they simply can’t afford to.

Those who do plan to mark the occasion will be spending an average of £104 – £4.5bn as a nation. This is £221m less than the total families spent on Easter in 2022.

When it comes to plans for the Easter weekend, most people will be having a meal at home (40%) or visiting their loved ones (36%). Meanwhile, only one in 12 (8%) plan to go out for a meal.

More than a third (35%) of those questioned had plans to enjoy a family day out over the Easter break. Unsurprisingly, free and budget-friendly options like a walk in the park (38%), an Easter egg hunt (33%) and a trip to the cinema (27%) were the most popular choices.

TopCashback found that Easter gifting is set to see a decline, with Brits planning to scale back on small gestures like buying flowers and sending cards. Just 34% will be spending money on gifts for their loved ones, and of those who won’t be more than a quarter say it’s because they don’t have the money to do it.

Eggs-ceptions to the cost-cutting rule

However, most (93%) families will still be buying chocolate eggs, with national spend on the Easter staple set to reach £912m (£78m less than in 2022).

Adam Bullock, UK director at TopCashback, said: “Easter has always been about spending quality time as a family, so it’s disheartening to know that the cost-of-living crisis is having such a profound impact on people, some are forced to give this up.

“Although this year may not be about having a big meal or an expensive day out, I hope that most families will still be able to come together and enjoy some of the free and budget friendly activities on offer.”