Acquiring ritual tools can be expensive in this day and age when everybody's out to make a buck. Further, if you're under 18 and don't have a credit card, the option of ordering supplies online is not open to you (unless you have really understanding parents). I know the frustration that this causes, but I did not let it stop me from acquiring wonderful ritual tools.

Of the tools I own, only two of them were purchased online. The rest I either made, or got at a local discount store, sometimes modifying them to my own use. I realize that if you're young and have limited resources, even the tips I'll give you will be difficult to implement. Just remember that most tools of the Craft are innocuous enough in and of themselves. It's only when decorated, assembled together, and used that they become objects of suspicion. Just don't give up simply because you can't find the tool you want - when it's time for you to have the tool, the means for acquiring it will appear.

• Altar - Mine is simply a cheap computer desk that I got at K-Mart. I had to assemble it, so for those of you that aren't mechanically inclined you might want some help. If you already have a nightstand or an old corner desk, or simply a trestle table, great! Just make sure it'll hold the weight of whatever you want to put on it. If you go the route of buying a prefab desk, this is going to cost you upwards of twenty dollars.

• Altar Cloth - This is relatively easy to acquire, provided there is a fabric store near you. Look in the discount or remnant section for something that catches your eye. After holidays or at the end of a season is a really great time to get good discounts too. You shouldn't need more than a yard of 45 inch cloth, depending upon the size of your altar. Just ask the clerks in the store for help if you're completely clueless. If you're a really good bargain hunter, this may cost you as little as fifty cents. Use clear nail polish to finish off the edges and keep them from fraying, or make a small hem if you have access to a sewing machine. Presto! Instant transformation of even the most drab altar! If you don't have a fabric store near you, ask friends if they have old curtains or scraps of fabric they want to get rid of.

• Athame - Again, if you're under 18, remember that it's illegal for you to purchase or carry anything that could be construed as a weapon. I mentioned earlier in Tips for Teens, that you could use a ceramic athame or do without. This is definitely one of the four most important tools, but it can wait, or be replaced with the wand. That said, for those that want an athame, some less expensive ones are available online, made out of bone or clay. Just don't treat these too roughly. If you're not set on having a double-edged blade, you can go and purchase any knife relatively cheaply at any discount outlet. As this is never used to cut anything physical, the blade needn't be able to hold an edge, and many people have their blades dulled. According to most traditions the handle should be black, but choose something that looks and feels right to you. You could wrap the handle with ribbon, or decorate the blade with glitter designs or the like. Some write their name on the handle in the Theban Alphabet by either engraving, permanent marker, or paint.

• Besom/Broom - Again, this is relatively inexpensive to acquire, but can be time consuming to disguise the fact that it was purchased at a store. I bought a regular corn broom (about $3 at the dollar store) and spent hours taking out the padding underneath the bulk at the top, along with the heavy-duty fiber they used to bind the corn stalks together. I then used a length of leather cord (purchased for about $2 at the craft store) and wove it in between the individual bristles and bound it tightly to make the broom round. I then sanded the handle, stained it, and attached a tassel to the top by driving a small finishing nail (left over from assembly of the desk) into the top of the handle. Total cost here: about $5, but I already had the sandpaper, stain, and brush. Aggravation level: High.

• Book of Shadows - This one's easy, and easily disguised. I just purchased a black three-ring binder and a packet of loose, college ruled, notebook paper. Total cost: $2. The cost would be more if I added decoration, but I'm happy with my no-frills BoS, and since I take it everywhere with me, any decorations I might attach would quickly come off.

• Bowls - This one you'll want to do a little shopping around on, to make sure that what you're getting will fit in the space you have available. Some people like to use fancy flower pots for this rather than an actual bowl. If you're going to consume anything that's being contained in these bowls - like drinking water or a libation out of it - make sure the coating is food safe, don't just go with any old thing that looks pretty. If you're really crafty, you could throw your own on a potter's wheel, though I doubt many of us have them in our recreation room. I have a matching water and salt bowl decorated with oak leaves around the rim. K-Mart comes through again. Cost: about $2 each.

• Cup/Chalice - This one is another easy tool to acquire. Just hop on over to your local dollar store and browse their kitchenware section. Often times they'll have pieces that once belonged to a set, but for whatever reason, the set is incomplete, and they'll sell the pieces individually. I have a wonderful amber-colored glass that's flawless as far as workmanship. Make sure that the glass you're buying, if you're going discount, isn't cracked or flawed, because if you pour a hot liquid into it, you could end up with a big mess and a lot of explaining to do. Cold liquids shouldn't bother though. Cost: $1.

• Figurines - The cost of these varies wildly. If you have some already, or receive them as gifts, great! Just dedicate them to whatever deity you feel they represent, and you've made a beautiful and symbolic addition to your altar.

• Incense - Buying is probably the cheapest way to go unless you have the facilities to make your own incense. Sticks are the cheapest, with the price of cones, resins, and powders varying in price depending on quality. When choosing incense, or making your own, remember not to get something so strong you can't concentrate or breathe once it's lit.

• Pentacle - This is one of the two tools I've purchased online, the other being my athame. I paid about $18 for mine, and it's heat resistant. (The pentacle is also more even than I could have gotten it myself.) If you're feeling especially creative, you could paint a pentacle on something. If you have access to a wood-burner, you could burn the design into a block of wood then sand and stain it. If you paint yours on something, be careful about putting edibles on the paint unless you're sure it's non-toxic.

• Staff/Wand - I'll cover these both here for brevity's sake. Just go for a walk in the woods or the park, and keep your eyes peeled for a nice, straight fallen tree limb. Some people think you should harvest from a living tree, but I've found this too cruel and often botched badly, despite rituals you can perform that are supposed to protect the tree from harm. This is just my personal preference, though. For the wand, the length should be a little longer than the length from the inside of your elbow to the tip of your middle finger. You'll want it longer if you're going to sand it. If you're just going to use it as is, make it as long as the distance between your elbow and tip of your middle finger. The staff should be about as long as you are tall, adjusted for your personal preference and the density of the wood. Ideally these limbs should be free of bark, though if they have some bark attached, you can sand it off with patience or soak the limbs overnight in your bathtub. This one involves some expense if you want something smooth and sanded. Pieces of sandpaper are about a dollar each, and you should get at least three different grains - rough, medium, and fine - so you can get a nice texture when you're done. You don't need a brush larger than one inch across, so this is relatively inexpensive - no more than $2. You should go with the smallest can of stain that the hardware store has. Even just a little dab on the brush goes a long way on wood because it spreads out so much. I got an 8 oz can that cost me around five dollars. Also, if you need to shorten the wand or staff or to saw off protrusions, you'll need a small saw. This can run anywhere from three to five dollars. If you get something with a really thin blade, get a couple of replacement blades too, because I guarantee you'll break at least one. Work outside if you don't have some sort of wood shop, especially when it comes to staining the wood. You don't need the fumes overwhelming you! My fingers were cramped for days while I worked on my staff and wand, but the end result was well worth it. Total cost here: about $18. And I had the sandpaper, saw, and stain left over when I made my besom.