Let's face it: Times are tough. From the bird flu to the newly introduced tariffs, prices for just about everything are sky-high (and bank accounts are at an all-time low). One of the most affected grocery items is an Easter staple, with people paying as much as $13 for a carton of eggs that was previously less than $5.

With many a holiday plan revolving around the oval-shaped culinary delight, people are turning towards alternative options to dye so they aren't just throwing away money. After all, if you aren't a hard-boiled egg fan, a lot of those dyed eggs go to waste once the kiddos have had their fun, anyway. Luckily, people are resourceful and creative, and many are ditching the eggs for cheaper alternatives. Here are our favorite ideas.

Potatoes

Probably the most trendy alternative to dyeing Easter eggs this year is dyeing potatoes. Yup, that's right. You can grab a pound of spuds for way cheaper than a dozen eggs, and as an added bonus, you won't have a mess to clean up if you accidentally drop one. Plus, if you opt for natural food coloring, you can still eat your taters after coloring them. All you have to do is rinse your potatoes before dyeing them, dry them, and get started!

Marshmallows

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Jet-Puffed

People are scooping up jumbo-sized marshmallows to paint this holiday season, and if you like to keep things easy-peasy, Jet-Puffed is rising to the occasion. The brand launched its first-ever Dip & Decorate Dozen kit, which includes a 24-ounce bag of Jumbo Extra Large marshmallows, six varieties of rainbow food coloring, mini tongs, and fine-point decorating pens and drizzles to create custom designs, all for just $1.99.

Jet-Puffed Dip & Decorate Marshmallows

Dip & Decorate Marshmallows

Onions

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Hubei territory Network Technology Co., Ltd/ 500px//Getty Images

If you have sensitive eyes, using an onion as an Easter egg might not be for you, but for everyone else, they provide a larger, rounder, and cheaper substitute. Like potatoes, you can easily use an onion in place of an egg for dying. Just make sure you peel off the crackly outer layer before submerging in dye.

DIY Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs

Sure, you can hit up the store and snag Reese's eggs to put in your Easter basket, but if you want to stay crafty, you can make your own and select different colors. Use white chocolate for the outer coating and you can dip and dye the exterior to your heart's content. There's never been a tastier Easter egg.