7 Steps to Holiday Magic Without Trashing Your Budget
by Annie Grace
Many of us don't have the money (or inclination) to run out and buy a pewter chalice or a six inch crystal wand inlaid with moonstones. We don't have to, actually.

Yuletide can seem to be all about money, and it's a good time of the year to remember that the magic comes from within, not from a catalog. Here's some common-sense tips to make your altar just as nice as the ones you see in the glossy ads without burning out your budget.

1. Kill the altar clutter.
Think carefully before you go out and buy a lot of decorative nonsense. First of all, check out how much stuff you can actually fit in the allotted space. (You want to be able to use your altar without that expensive porcelain dragon you got for your birthday.) Leave yourself enough space for the essentials - mine consist of four candle holders, a marble Pegasus and a plaster cauldron I'm in the process of hand-painting. Designate a drawer or box where you can store the rest. Use a towel or inexpensive cloth underneath everything to keep wax and oils from spilling onto the surface beneath.

2. Mundane can be cool.
Here is a great grocery store witch's secret - the Dollar Store. Most of these little shops sell all kinds of goodies for, well, a dollar. Lead-crystal candle holders, a great selection of colored candles and even incense. If you feel the need to spend a trifle more, your chain or local discount store will have some very nice candles and holders that are also inexpensive. If you're quasi-artistic, you can often find lots of neat unpainted wood or plaster to decorate yourself.

3. The Goddess loves Garage sales.
Okay, so you want to have to have something that's "really magical" to place on your altar or to give to a friend for Yule. Every witch needs something beautiful to represent the gods or whatever you want to call your focus of energy. But stop right there! Do not, I repeat, DO NOT take one step into any mall or specialized shop near you until you have checked out the garage sales, antique stores and small, family-owned trinket shops that don't add two bucks for a schnazzy name. There are plenty of small jewels in these places that are easy on your budget.

4. Magical supplies-R-Us.
Stocking up your magical supply cabinet doesn't have to entail an extension on your home mortgage. Besides the discounters, that nice eclectic corner occult store comes in handy for many items that you can't get at Stuff-Mart. Most shops that sell Pagan and New Age merchandise also have essential oils and incense; usually at a pretty decent price if you are careful and shop around.

5. Kitchen Herbs are magical too!
Now that you've got your oils and incense, let's get stocked up on herbs. Some easy-to-find, cheap and very versatile herbs are:

· Sage (in all forms)
· Chamomile
· Cinnamon (sticks)
· Rose Petals
· Bay Leaves
· Peppermint
· Licorice Root
· Juniper

The following oils are relatively cheap and easy-to-find:
· Lavender
· Rosemary
· Chamomile
· Eucalyptus
· Gardenia

I've found that sage and chamomile can pretty much be purchased anywhere in some form for a decent price. And don't forget the grocery store or natural foods store where you can usually purchase Basil, Garlic, Cinnamon and various kinds of pepper to use in your spice rack - and in your spells.

6. Make your own magic!
Now that you're stocked up and your altar is ready, here are a few other tips on some things you might need to begin whipping up some budget-easy magic!

· A wand can be made for free by picking and cutting a branch from a tree in your yard or a neighbor's (be sure to ask first, and thank the tree for its sacrifice). You can peel the bark and decorate it anyway you like. Another good source for a wand is any discount art supply, where you can buy wooden craft rods of all sizes and various beads and ribbons to decorate it to your heart's content.

· Spellbook. There are blank books aplenty on the sale rack at your local bookstore. For informative reading material or almanacs, try a used book
store in town.

· Making a cloak or magical clothes to wear can be relatively easy, sometimes even without a sewing machine. You can also wear a shawl or scarf passed down from your Grandma, or if you don't have a Grandma, try yard sale shopping for these kinds of garments. Resale and costume shops are also a good place to find something magical that suits your needs.

7. It's called the Craft - be crafty!
Stay out of the mall and brand name retail stores unless you can't find what you are looking for anywhere else. Most important of all - don't buy anything that you will regret wasting money on later! If you see something you like, but aren't sure about the cost, put off your purchase for a few days and come back later. Many things are only attractive while you're in the store. And a last bit of advice - cast a money-saving spell before you go out shopping! My favorite only involves a piece of string or yarn tied around your left wrist while praying (or chanting softly) about binding yourself to your budget and restraining the urge to spend too much money.

Yuletide is a time of light and joy - and with a bit of prudence it doesn't have to lead to a credit-card hangover in January. Happy Solstice, everyone!

Annie Grace lives in Oklahoma.