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Increasing costs are changing how Americans celebrate not whether they celebrate

• Rising chocolate prices are reshaping Easter shopping habits, but most Americans are still celebrating just more strategically.

• Simple savings tactics like stacking discounts, timing purchases, and using leftover gift cards can help cut costs without sacrificing traditions.

• Beyond candy, expenses like clothing, dcor, and hosting extras can quietly drive up your total making them key areas to scale back.

Easter may be a little pricier this year, but for most Americans, its still very much on the calendar.

New data from RetailMeNot shows that while rising chocolate costs are forcing shoppers to rethink how they spend, theyre not giving up the holiday altogether. In fact, more than eight in 10 consumers still plan to celebrate theyre just getting smarter about it.

From hunting for deals to rethinking what goes into baskets, shoppers are finding ways to hold onto traditions without overspending. ConsumerAffairs spoke with RetailMeNots Retail Insights Expert Stephanie Carls, who explained that the focus isnt on cutting Easter out its on making it work within todays tighter budgets.

Easter savings strategies

Like any holiday, theres ways to make the most of your budget even as prices in nearly every category continue to increase.

Carls shared her top three savings strategies consumers can employ as they prepare for Easter weekend:

• Stack savings, but do it in the right order. Start with the sale price, stack a promo code on top, then activate any cash back offers before you check out. Most people stop at the sale price and call it a day. All three stacked together is a different final number.

• Know what youre shopping for before you decide when to shop. If selection matters, shop before the holiday. If price is the priority, the deepest discounts show up after Easter Sunday, not before it. Those are two different strategies and theyre both right, just for different things.

• Use what you already have. Gift cards, reward points, store credit collecting dust in an app since December. Leftover gift cards are still in circulation and ready to stack on top of already-discounted products. Easter is low-stakes enough to actually use them.

The priciest categories this Easter

If youre preparing for Easter, here the top three categories that Carls said are likely to run you a higher bill this year:

• Spring clothes. Outside of chocolate, spring apparel is the category most people arent thinking about but should be. Twenty-one percent of shoppers in our data plan to buy clothing or seasonal apparel for Easter. Pre-Easter is the best window for spring clothing. Department stores are discounting spring dresses, kids Easter outfits, and pastel basics in the weeks leading up to the holiday, and popular sizes move fast. If the outfit is happening either way, buy it now.

• Chocolate specifically deserves its own conversation this year. Our data shows 26% of shoppers plan to spend less on chocolate because of rising prices, and another 37% say theyll look for deals or cash back before buying it. Thats nearly two thirds of shoppers changing their behavior around one category.

• Skip anything marketed as an Easter-themed version of something that exists year-round. The bunny on the packaging is not a selling point. You are paying for the label.

Balancing Easter shopping in your budget

Carls explained that Easter baskets arent the only place where the holiday gets expensive.

RetailMeNot's data shows the average Easter spend this year is $88, and candy and chocolate top the list at 68% of shoppers planning to buy it, she said. Thats not the budget problem.

The creep happens in the categories people dont think about until theyre already in the store. Decorations and hosting supplies, floral arrangements, restaurant brunches. Those add up fast and theyre a lot easier to cut than the chocolate bunny.

Her best advice:

• Keep the traditions that matter to your family.

• Set a per-basket number before you shop, not after.

• Deciding the number upfront means you stop justifying each small purchase on its own and start making real tradeoffs.

The pressure to spend big is mostly manufactured, Carls said. Shoppers have more room here than the seasonal marketing wants them to think. Timing and a short list usually get the job done.

New data reveals how financial pressure and daily stress are shaping habits and what healthier coping can look like

• More than half of Americans say stress and rising costs are so overwhelming, theyve considered leaving the U.S. and many report turning to substances just to get through the day.

• Financial pressure, limited access to affordable care, and nonstop daily stress are driving increased substance use, with some people using before or even during work.

• Experts say small, healthier coping strategies like setting boundaries, finding support, and building daily moments of relief can help break the cycle and improve long-term well-being.

For a growing number of Americans, stress isnt just an occasional bad day its a constant backdrop to everyday life. Rising costs, demanding work schedules, and limited access to affordable health care are leaving many people feeling stretched thin.

New research from Drug Rehab USA underscores just how widespread the strain has become, with more than half of Americans saying they would consider leaving the country due to stress and cost-of-living pressures. Against that backdrop, substance use is on the rise, with many turning to it as a way to cope with mounting pressures.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with Andrew McKenna, JD, expert author and editor at Drug Rehab USA, who says the trend reflects a deeper issue: people are searching for relief wherever they can find it. As the data shows, substances are often seen as more accessible than professional care but they can come with long-term consequences. Understanding whats driving this shift and what healthier coping strategies look like is key to helping people regain a sense of control.

The impact of chronic stress

McKenna explained that chronic stress is one of the biggest factors influencing Americans decision to use substances.

The stress is associated with financial and job pressures, as well as a general feeling that life is a lot right now, and its just getting harder to manage, he said.

Our research found that nearly everyone is dealing with some form of daily stress and theyre being priced out by supportive aids like therapy, and it feels so far out of reach that theyre reaching for more instant relief. So it makes sense that were seeing substance use show up earlier in the day and even during work hours, its just becoming a part of how adults function, not just how they relax.

Adopting healthier coping strategies

Over time, using substances to cope with stress can be detrimental in several ways. McKenna explained that long-term, substance use can negatively impact productivity, relationships, and overall public health.

Instead, he advises consumers to look to healthier coping strategies. Adoption can start with moving away from quick fixes and heading toward things that actually reduce stress over time, McKenna said.

While difficult, he recommends trying the following:

• Look at what brings you joy. Allow yourself even a little bit of that on a daily basis.That could be simply going outside, going on a short walk or jog, or getting a nice cup of coffee.

• Get some you time. This is a big thing, and should be something that you enjoy on a regular basis.

• Show up for yourself and set boundaries. It can be really hard for a lot of people to do this, but trust me, its worth it.

• When possible, search out some form of support. Whether its a support group, low-cost counseling, or even structured digital tools, these can really help you build healthier patterns that last long term.

Take small steps

If youre struggling with substance use, McKenna recommends taking small steps, as they will eventually lead to positive change long-term.

One thing thats really interesting we uncovered in our research is that adults arent exactly using substances to feel good, but to just feel okay and functioning, he said. Thats an important distinction to make. When theres so many adults struggling to just get by, it speaks to a larger issue around access to care, financial strain, and their overall well-being.

Another piece of advice: Try talking to someone, even casually.

Thats a big step in the right direction, McKenna said. It can also make you feel less alone and see that your struggles are often similar to others, and your situation isnt an isolated one.

The bargain treasure hunt hiding inside Staples

• Staples Bin Wins is a new rotating bin sale filled with overstock and returns (including many Amazon items), with fresh inventory added every Friday.

• Prices drop daily from about $15 on Friday down to $2 by Thursday, meaning better selection early in the week and cheaper prices later.

• To win, shop early for quality or mid-week for value, scan items on eBay before buying, and remember everything is final sale so choose carefully.

Staples is quietly rolling out something called Bin Wins inside many of their stores, and its basically a rotating clearance event where shoppers dig through bins of heavily discounted items.

Think of the bins as part thrift store and part liquidation sale.

Heres whats actually going on and how you can take advantage of it.

What 'Bin Wins'actually are

• The bins are filled with overstock and returned merchandise (including many Amazon returns).
• Inventory typically includes tech, toys, home goods, clothing, and some random finds.
• New items are restocked every Friday, then picked over all week.

How pricing works (this is the key)

Similar to more traditional bin stores, prices drop every single day on the same items:

• Friday: $15 (best selection, highest price)
• Saturday: $12
• Sunday: $10
• Monday: $8
• Tuesday: $6
• Wednesday: $4
• Thursday: $2 (cheapest, but mostly picked over)

Some locations may follow slightly different pricing tiers, but the pattern stays the same.

If you wait, youll pay less, but there will be fewer good items left.

Are these really Amazon returns?

The short answer is that yes, a lot of them are, but not everything.

Staples accepts Amazon returns in-store, and many of those items end up in the bins.

Youll also find overstock from other retailers, Staples shelf pulls, and many random liquidation items.

Keep in mind that some items are brand new, others are opened, and some may be missing parts or manuals.

How to actually score good deals

1. Go on Friday if you want quality:Thats when bins are freshly stocked. Youll find the best items, but youll pay more.
2. Go mid-week for the sweet spot:Tuesday and Wednesday tend to offer lower prices with still decent selection.
3. Go Thursday if youre hunting for flips:At $2 per item, this is where resellers show up looking for leftover value.

Smart tips for shopping the Bin Wins section

• Everything is final sale. Make sure you test out products the best you can, and youre okay with the price, as you cannot return or exchange anything.
• Bring your phone and scan everything. Look items up on eBay before buying. Some shoppers flip cheap finds for big profits.
• Dont assume it works. Test electronics if possible or stick to sealed items.
• Watch the crowd. Fridays can get competitive with early lines and fast picking.
• Set a strict budget. Cheap clutter is still clutter if you dont need it.