I’m starting to see the filled Easter baskets in the drugstore and supermarket sales fliers.

When I was a kid, I though filled baskets were lame. As a grownup, I think they’re a poor choice for the money. If you’ve ever noticed, filled baskets don’t hold much candy or toys because the packaging adds a lot of bulk.

Your alternatives depend on whether this basket is a gift, or whether this basket is for the children in your home.

If it’s for the children in your home, then buy a very nice basket with a generic Easter theme rather than a licensed character. That way, the basket can be a cherished keepsake saved from year to year. We have plush Peeps baskets.

If the basket is a gift, such as for grandchildren who live elsewhere, then look for the very inexpensive baskets either at the thrift shops or in the Easter aisles. My grandmother actually used paper bowls to create Easter “baskets” for her 10 grandchildren.

Now as far as the candy assortment goes, here are some tips:

• Find out what everyone’s “must have” candy item is and make sure you get that. If the jellybeans are in the house, will the family members notice what you didn’t buy? Probably not.
• Buy about one-third less bagged candy than you expect to need. It’s easy to go overboard on that stuff.
• I tend to buy the name brand candy rather than skimp on quality or taste. One Russell Stover peanut butter egg, to me, is way better than twice as much no-name chocolate.
• If you want to include toys, barrettes, stickers, coloring books, Hot Wheels, Barbies and other “non food” gifts, then find one item that each child will really enjoy rather than a big pile of items that won’t be even looked at a week later.