From the article: Pagan Living on a Budget
Do you have a great idea on how to save money within your magical and spiritual practice? Share your tips for financial survival with our other readers! Share Your Ideas
Buy Used!
- I run the meta section of a local used book store and, due to space constraints, we clearance LOTS of really good books in the wicca/paganism vein. Stock changes daily, so get to know your local booksellers and we can hook you up with amazing bargains!
- —Guest Elaine
it's all just stuff anyway
- you don't actually NEED any of the stuff, it's all just a way to focus your attention and will anyway. So doodle it on a piece of paper, or draw it in the dirt (it can later be scrubbed out) or stop worrying what a book or anyone else says and listen to your inner thoughts to make your own rituals without the need for stuff
- —Guest Laz
Good Ideas
- I also a lot of my herbs in the spice aisle. I also have started growing some. I managed to get seeds for $1.00 or less. My dollar store here doesnt have colored votives, but they have white (4/$1.00) which can be used for any color. Candle holders can be found there too. I read somewhere that you can make candle holders out of tin cans. Most of my books I got used on Amazon. Shipping and all I paid $4.00 for a book that is usually about $12.00, I paid $13.00 for book that is normally about $20.00, etc. All my books were in the condition described or better, just make sure you look at the descritipion of the book. A lot of websites tell you how you can make your own Book of Shadows.
- —MandyMouse28
Dollar Store Kitchen Herbs and Nylons
- Yep, you read that correctly. I use clean nylons to make sachets and fill them with the required ingredients. If the ingredients include herbs, I use simple, store-bought kitchen herbs, as I currently only have one fresh herb on-hand.
- —Guest Otter
Witch-on-a-Budget
- As a senior in college, I am definately a Witch on a budget. Add to that an inability to use candles or incense b/c I live in a dormitory, and you have some pretty interesting substitutions. Whenever possible, I use items I can get free by virtue of living on a college campus. An ever-present example of this is salt--it's everywhere! There are salt shakers on the dining hall tables and salt packets available from the on-campus cafes. I also use some very untraditional representations of the Elements in my rituals: Glo-Sticks (Fire), Motion Lamps (Fire), Reed Diffusers (Air). Perhaps, though, my favorite, most highly recommended Witch-on-a-Budget Tip: boiling water and salt. You have all Four Elements: Water (obvious), Fire (it's *boiled* water), Air (boiled water produces steam), and Earth (salt). Blessed Be
- —Guest Nicky
These are all great ideas
- You could do any of these, I prefer the dollar store but look online as well, some places sell candles and candle making supplies in bulk and you could get a bunch of friends to combine your funds and then split up the order. That's what I plan to do when I run out of candles, there is a place near me that sells in bulk and I am going to bring this up to my friends. Who knows maybe that would work with buying books even second hand online, you could all compile your money together and see who would offer a discount if you buy more than just the one copy or whatever.
- —Guest Myst
Pagans on a Budget
- Don't forget your local library. These days they have endless books on all kinds of religions(including pagan/wicca). The library also has computers you can use for free. You tube has great pagan/wiccan people who give fantastic ideas on how to get supplies at little or no cost, plus they have how to videos. If you have an apple(Earth element),potatoe(air),onion(fire)and banana(water). A stick(de-barked) with your intention and a cool rock along the ground tie on with twine,string,floss or grapevine,sweetgrass etc..wa la a wand. All of your tools are already here for you just look around this great mother earth and you should find all that you could possibly need and more.
- —Guest Erasiss
Economic Stimulus
- I completely agree with the tips suggested here, and have long taught that the only tool needed to make magick is your mind. That being said I'd just like to remind everyone to patronize their favorite shops when they can afford to do so. I am a former Pagan Shop owner who can speak firsthand to the fact that your local shop needs your support to stay in business.
- —dierdrenifearghall
How to save money
- Truly, the Earth is bountiful! From seeds from the dollar store, to recognizing magical herbs in Nature- gardening has limitless rewards! Friends like to share plugs and ground eggshell and coffee grounds work nicely in soil for nutients. When the seedlings do poorly, its time to revise the planting ritual! Communing this way gives a personal touch to what we "need."
- —Affine
Garage sale
- Our coven is having a garage sale in a couple of weeks. Its amazing,the stuff we bought and are now willing to part with.
- —Wolcen
Being a "packrat" helps
- I am new to Wicca and my budget for tools is extremely limited. I started going through things I had collected over the years. I found a favorite stone that I had saved because I liked the way it looked when I found it years ago. I am a quilter and had bunches of fabric to choose from. I made a really nice alter cloth. I found a mini cast iron pot( looks like a cauldron) that I had since childhood.(part of a set for my mini cast iron stove) I made my own Pentacle with circles of wood I found at the craft store for 99 cents. My candles and incense come from the dollar store. The oils are still out of my price range but I will do my best without them. Just be creative and look at ordinary things in out of the ordinary ways.
- —Guest bittysnitty
Freecycling
- Freecycle.com is a wonderful place to post your wants and offers.
- —Guest tnthudfl
What you already have.
- I think this has been a great reminder to us Pagan's that whatever we think we "need", has been inside of us all along. Thanks! -Raven. P.S. For incenses and other supplies, try going to garage sails. You can get dozens of candles from those things without having too rob a bank to do so :)
- —Guest Raven O'Haye
The Dollar Store
- My town has three dollar stores. I found a lot of candles and some altar stuff there - really cheap! But, I am a big fan of just getting outside!!
- —Meganmt
Learning Experience
- I think sometimes the gods use situations like the recession to get through to us. There's nothing like an empty wallet to teach us that we already have everything we really need to practice our craft. Having "stuff" is a want, not a need. And making "stuff" ourselves is some of the most fun we can have with our clothes on! :)
- —Guest Crystal Rose
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