The Internet is a wonderful thing as everything is right there at the click of a mouse, however the shipping can be substantial. I now use it only for things that I have no way of getting my hands on locally, or that I don�t feel right about substituting something else for it.
I have also discovered that I have everything I need right here, but do not need it all! I can always change a candle spell to another type of spell, so why did I feel I had to have over 70 candles? Now granted it can be very hard to find black candles except around Halloween, but white ones you can find anytime.
I suggest a simple kit for beginners, to be added to a little at a time. My essentials would be:
Blessing incense
Banishing incense
white candles
black candles (opt.)
sage
rosemary
basil
sandalwood essential oil
sea salt
olive or sweet almond carrier oil
If you can afford it a divination tool is always a great thing to have but if you can�t learn sky divination, or how to read tea leaves.
With these few items you can create dozens of spells!
You can cut your candles into thirds if you use tapers, just trim the wax from around the wick. Sage, rosemary and salt makes a great ritual bath for cleansing and blessing, and sandalwood is good for most anything, Dilute it into olive oil if you want to really save money, it makes a wonderful candle dressing, anointing oil and does retain the sandalwood scent. Sprinkling basil around is a great banisher, as I am sure you have heard the adage �where basil is no evil can reside�. I am sure creatively you can think of alot of ways to save money, and most of the time will see that it is a more natural process to grow your own herbs instead of buying them, if that is possible for you. However if it is not wal mart and the like have large containers of dried rosemary etc. for around 50 cents.
The local dollar stores usually have great deals on candleholders and candles.
You can buy your books used, get together with like minded friends and swap books around, find tools at flea markets (cleanse thoroughly of course) , and there are lots of great guided meditation sites online, Desktop Meditations has several to choose from . Also utilize your public library every chance you get, There are some really great works on history and philosophy out there, and some great videos as well! PBS regularly schedules documentaries on all kinds of topics of interest to pagans. I recently had the good fortune to stumble across a three part series on the Celts based upon historical facts and archeology digs.
If you have a CD burner, put it to use! There are some really great guided meditations, hypnosis and subliminal MP3s available for download at places like kazaa.com and really good new age music as well.
So before you go out and charge up your credit card, or spend a whole days wages on that sparkly crystal, think about layaway. This secures the item as yours but gives you more time to pay for it.
You can mix your own oils, bathing salts, and teas instead of spending a fortune on that new �all natural super cleansing� tea.
Check out what wildflowers grow in your area, is there an apiary near by? Honey is a great substance that is full of magickal uses, and makes a wonderful sweetener. Say you find a huge field of mugwort, or honeysuckle, Gather enough for you and a friend and then swap half of it to her for something she found. There is magick aplenty in nature and harvesting herbs, or appreciating the beauty of the flowers can be a hugely satisfying experience.
You can borrow craft items from friends, such as a wood burning tool to make your own ouija or pentacle.
Make your own wand, you can correspond the woods to intent if you wish, and top it of with a crystal.
Utilize color magick with your clothing, and decorate your own Book of Shadows, a loose leaf binder will hold alot of information and you can choose some really beautiful pagan artwork from the web to print out for the divider pages. The possibilities are endless.
Make your own ritual wine, this is an artform to itself and for a few dollars investment you can make your own mead, wine, or ales. There are some good recipe websites for this with tips on how to.
Save the seeds from the vegetables and fruits that you buy, and then plant them, this is a good way to ensure the plant will be around for others to enjoy as well, and gives you opportunities for future harvesting.
Save your eggshells to make your own chalk.
Save your orange, lemon and lime peels and dry them yourself. They make a wonderful addition to homemade potpourris and incense, as do apple peels. Get the maximum use out of mother nature�s gifts.
These are just a few ideas, and please don�t forget to recycle! If you are lucky enough to get a few dollars reimbursement on recycling this is a good way to keep building on your supplies list. I hope this article sets you on the way to the art of frugal witchery. Blessed Be!