Picnic baskets can be expensive. All depending on what is included and how large the basket is.
When you hear of the term “picnic basket” you probably invasion a light colored wicker basket lined with some cute red plaid material that is overflowing with baked treats, wine and cheese. These types of wicker picnic baskets are still quite popular today.
Baskets with All the Bells and Whistles
Many picnic baskets come with all the amenities to enjoy a wonderful picnic outdoors. They include: plates, silverware, wine glasses, a cheese slicer, a cutting board, wine bottle opener, linen napkins and sometimes a small picnic blanket or cloth. Now these baskets also are quite pricey. An average picnic basket for two that comes fully stocked will cost about $60.00.
It is possible to find cheap picnic baskets that are fully loaded though. If you look hard enough online, you can find picnic baskets that have all of amenities for $44.00.
Of course if you are only interested in cheap picnic baskets that do not have anything included with them, then you can get off even cheaper. The plain basket by itself may only cost $15-$20.00. Store like Michael’s and any craft store carry plain picnic baskets but they may not carry the fancy baskets with lids and fasteners that store your plates and utensils to the basket.
Some online stores will sell “empty picnic baskets” for $44.00! Now that may seem like a rip-off but the baskets I have seen at this price feature a nice quality basket with sturdy comfortable carrying handles and it is still lined with some adorable print. Personally, I think if you are going to spend $44.00 on an empty basket, why not just buy a cheap picnic basket set that has everything included for the $44.00?!
If a wicker picnic basket is not exactly your cup of tea, then you can purchase Cooler picnic baskets. These are usually insulated and zip close. These are good for ample storage since you can cram all sorts of goodies in these baskets. Another benefit to these baskets is that they are a bit lighter in weight over the wicker baskets. Cooler picnic baskets may only be slightly cheaper than wicker baskets. You can purchase a cooler picnic basket for 4 people for as cheap as $68.00. That’s significantly cheaper over a wicker basket for 4 which costs an average of $90.00.
Money Saving Tip: If you truly want to buy cheap picnic baskets, try purchasing one during the months of October-February. You can usually get a better deal during off-season from picnicking.