Witchcraft doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, many magickal tools can be found at budget-friendly stores like Dollar Tree, or you can make them yourself! Whether you're just starting your practice or looking to add new items to your altar, here are eight affordable witchy things, why they’re useful, and how you can DIY them if you'd like.
1. Glass Jars – Perfect for Spellwork and Storage
Why They’re Useful:
Glass jars are great for storing herbs, moon water, or spell ingredients. They also work well for creating spell jars, which are small bottles filled with magical ingredients to help with things like protection, love, or confidence.
Where to Find Them:
Discount stores like Dollar Tree sells small glass jars in the kitchen section. Thrift stores have them, too!
DIY Option:
Reuse old spice jars or baby food jars. Just wash them well, remove the labels, and you have a free magickal container.
2. Candles – Essential for Rituals and Spells
Why They’re Useful:
Candles are a key part of many rituals and spells. They bring light, energy, and intention to your practice. Each candle color has a meaning—white for protection, red for love, green for money, etc.
Where to Find Them:
Dollar Tree sells candles in different colors, including tealights, taper candles, and glass-encased ones. Five Below and Clearance sections of your larger stores are great options, too.
DIY Option:
If you have old candles, melt them down and pour the wax into small jars or molds to create new ones. Add herbs or essential oils for extra magickal energy!
3. Herbs – Powerful for Spells, Teas, and Incense
Why They’re Useful:
Herbs have been used in magic for centuries. You can use them for spell jars, baths, teas, incense, and more. Some common magical herbs include rosemary (protection), basil (money), and lavender (peace).
Where to Find Them:
You can get dried herbs like basil, cinnamon, and rosemary from the spice section at discount stores, Farmer's markets, and grocery stores.
DIY Option:
Grow your own herbs! Even if you don’t have a garden, you can grow small pots of basil, mint, or rosemary in a sunny window. Dry them by hanging small bundles upside down.
4. Salt – A Powerful Tool for Protection and Cleansing
Why It’s Useful:
Salt is used for protection, cleansing, and purification. It can be sprinkled around your home to ward off negative energy, added to spellwork, or mixed with herbs for a powerful protection blend.
Where to Find It:
Dollar Tree sells table salt and even sea salt in the seasoning aisle. You can find it at grocery stores as well.
DIY Option:
Make black salt for extra protection! Mix salt with ashes from burned herbs or incense, and store it in a jar to use in your spells.
5. Ribbon or String – Great for Knot Magic and Binding Spells
Why It’s Useful:
Knot magic is a simple way to set intentions. You can tie knots in a string while focusing on a goal, such as confidence or courage. Ribbons can also be used to decorate your altar or bind herbs together.
Where to Find It:
Again, Dollar Tree has ribbons, twine, and yarn in the craft section, as does Five Below and your local craft stores.
DIY Option:
If you have old fabric, cut it into thin strips to use as ribbon. You can even dye them with natural ingredients like tea or beet juice for added magical color.
6. Mirrors – Useful for Divination and Protection
Why They’re Useful:
Mirrors can be used for scrying (a form of divination where you look into a reflective surface to receive messages). They are also great for protection spells, as they reflect negative energy away.
Where to Find Them:
Discount stores sell small handheld mirrors and compact mirrors that work perfectly for magic. Thrift stores are an option, too, but I would do research on this as many practitioners caution against using mirrors, especially those purchased from yard sales/thrift stores.
DIY Option:
Decorate a mirror with sigils or symbols using a permanent marker or paint to make it a personal magical tool.
7. Small Bowls – Perfect for Water, Offerings, and Spellwork
Why They’re Useful:
Small bowls are great for holding water on your altar, mixing ingredients for spells, or leaving offerings to spirits or deities.
Where to Find Them:
Look in the kitchen or home decor section of local stores, discount stores, or thrift stores for small ceramic or glass bowls.
DIY Option:
Repurpose old teacups, yogurt containers, or even seashells as small offering bowls. If you find a plain bowl, paint symbols or sigils on it for extra magical energy.
8. Paper and Pens – Essential for Spell Writing and Sigil Magic
Why They’re Useful:
Writing down your spells, dreams, or intentions can make them more powerful. You can also create sigils—symbols that hold magical intent—by drawing them on paper.
Where to Find Them:
Dollar Tree sells notebooks, journals, and pens in the school supplies aisle. A great time to stock up is during all the back-to-school-sales at your local stores!
DIY Option:
Make your own parchment paper by crumpling a piece of paper, soaking it in tea or coffee, and letting it dry. This gives it an aged look, perfect for writing spells or letters to the universe.
Final Thoughts: Magic on a Budget
You don’t need expensive tools to practice witchcraft. Many magical supplies can be found at budget-friendly stores like Dollar Tree or made at home with a little creativity. The most important part of your practice is your intention—not how much money you spend.
Next time you’re out shopping or crafting, keep an eye out for these simple but powerful items. Magic is all around you, waiting to be found!