Oh, and if you live need a Stater Bros, you can buy white emergency candles, white votive candles, and white tea candles for under three dollars in the paper products aisle(I got some emergency candles in a four pack for 99€).
Instead of tarot, a cheaper and easier learned form of divination would be reading tea leaves or coffee grounds, I-Ching using coins, or pendulum work. A pendulum can be made from practically anything.
Witches were generally of the lower class and couldn't afford fancy things either. That's why their "tools" include a broom (besom), knife, pot (cauldron), and ingredients they could find out in nature. If you don't own a broom, a pot, and a kitchen knife, I would be concerned! Their fire was generally the same that they received light from in the evening after the sun had set. The "altar" of a witch was most predominantly their "hearth" which was the center of their home, their source of warmth, their stove, their light, and without it, they could freeze in the winter. It was a source of life in this way, much like the sun is to life on earth (metaphorically speaking). That's why the fire of candles is considered so important. It's more about tradition and symbolism than anything. Ritual knives are only called athames in the Wiccan religion. Athame is not a traditional witchcraft term. We use a knife. It can be any knife but it's good to dedicate the same knife continuously or have a few for different purposes. I personally use my Gerber or Winchester pocket knife. One I use for aggressive magick like exorcism, and the other I use for gentler purposes. My husband for a very long time used a nice kitchen knife for all his rituals.
Another suggestion for less expensive supplies is to look in discount stores. I see very large magnifying glasses in a particular chain regularly, and I am considering purchasing one to make a black mirror, for example. They are also good sources for inexpensive glassware (should one want a chalice), knives, discounted furniture (for altars, ya know!), interesting boxes, journals, and I could go on. Some easy examples in the US are TJ Max, Marshall's, Ross, and Big Lots. Some of these may or may not be regionally located.
NobodyAtAll makes a good point. Discount stores, thrift stores, Craigslist, dollar stores, those are all places to check out. Any really big thrift store is a great place to look.
It all depends on what you would like to do. I was very interested in herbs and candle magic, so I invested in both coloured and plain candles (online), a small cauldron, some herbs, incense and a pendulum.
But of course you do not need to get everything all at once, I suggest starting with candles and incense, they are the most commonly used items and as you advance and find you need more items then you can add more to your collection.
Buying online tends to be the cheapest way personally, but you may find a good cheap store if you are lucky,
Making your own wand does take time but is wonderful because u made it it containes your energies and your power already instead of charging up a new one .. i myself have made my own wand in the past and its also a wonderful way to take a walk in your local forest or park and tune in with nature :) i now use a witches cord instead of a wand also hand made .. making your own stuff is to me the best way ... a clock curved face sprayed or painted black is wonderful for scrying many of my crystals i have gotten very cheap or giftedto me from people whom bought for themselves only to gift them along because they believed they actually bought them for me in truth ... as for a goblet a wine glass and a pack of glass decor from a crafts shop puts your stamp on it .....
