Witchcraft on a Shoestring by Deborah Blake shows that you do not have to spend a bunch of money to practice witchcraft. This is a wonderful book/resource including what practicing magic is, and how to make the things you'll need and how to use them. It also includes other recommended books and websites to help you further your practice. There are delicious recipes for the Sabbats of the year (some are so yummy you might cook the all year). I was blown away by this all encompassing book. This is definitely a must have for your library!

Deborah Blake never disappoints. This books is filled with great tips for those on a shoestring budget. I definitely plan to get a print copy of this book to have on my shelf with my other DB books.

—Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was so informative. It has tons of amazing tips as to how one can do their craft without breaking the bank. Yet it wasn’t materialistic in that if you have the good intentions and the mindset, anything is possible.

Book was provided trough netgally

"Witchcraft on a Shoestring: Practicing the Craft Without Breaking Your Budget" by Deborah Blake offers a refreshing take on Witchcraft for those seeking to deepen their practice without emptying their wallets. What sets this book apart is its assumption that readers already possess some knowledge of Witchcraft, skipping the introductory fluff and diving straight into practical advice—a rarity in the genre.

Blake expertly guides readers through cost-effective alternatives and substitutions, ensuring that financial constraints don't hinder one's spiritual journey. From explaining the rationale behind each substitution to providing clear instructions, the book empowers practitioners to explore and adapt their craft without feeling limited by financial limitations.

One of the highlights of the book is the inclusion of recipes and crafts, adding a hands-on dimension to the practice. These additions not only enhance the reader's understanding but also foster a sense of creativity and connection with the craft.

Ultimately, "Witchcraft on a Shoestring" reminds us that the essence of Witchcraft lies not in material possessions, but in the deep, personal connections we forge with ourselves, nature, and the divine. It challenges practitioners to prioritize intention and connection over materialism—a valuable lesson in today's consumer-driven world.

#WitchcraftonaShoestring #NetGalley

A delightfully written informative book on affordable diy good witch witchcraft.
I am not a practitioner, but I’m always curious about all things about nature and becoming a better person. Deborah Blake subtly debunks any ideas that witches are evil, but rather they appreciate the power of nature and becoming the best human possible. I might even unconsciously be a Green Witch!
This nonfiction book is easily read and directions art simple to follow. I totally enjoyed the authors writing style and clever do it yourself solutions and where to find free information, uses of herbs, gardening, Wiccan etiquette, crafts, and, yes, spell-casting. And more. This might also be a reference book for a themed event. There are clever crafts and recipes, even one for making paper.
I recommend this book for the broad minded person who wants to understand modern witches and their magick. Yes, magick, not magic. I heartily recommend this book for witches beginning their practice because it is such an easy comprehensive reference.
Thank you NetGalley and Crossed Crow Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This book is very joy oriented with recipes and other ways to bring comfort to yourself or others. The basics are given as well as background on what and why. I really enjoyed the chapter involving choice when it comes to ingredients. Use this not that is one of the big discussions in ritual and holiday celebrations. The author has alternatives and why they may be workable.This book is full of ideas and options.

This was an absolute gem. I loved her humorous narration as she explains the best ways to NOT get ourselves into a bind, so to speak. There were a lot of helpful tips and tricks I think people could refer to for a very long time!

Good, down to earth advice on how to practice your craft without buying into the idea you have to spend a lot of money on crystals and equipment.

So many younger witches I see on social media have got wrapped up in the aesthetic of witchcraft, collecting crystals, fancy wands and such. This book is a timely reminder that none of that is necessary to perform natural magic.

Should be on every recommended reading list for Pagan or witchcraft books.

As an avid reader of witchcraft books, this is the book I have been looking for! While this book is aimed at people who want to practice on a budget, I think this book also suits minimalists really well. Witchcraft very often devolves into a "stuff" focused practice, which can be frustrating for a multitude of reasons. This book is a really comprehensive guide to practicing without spending a lot or even acquiring a lot.

This book is a great resource for beginner witches who are looking for ways to practice their craft without spending a lot of money, because let's face it, some of the tools can be expensive. Blake provides recipes, crafts, and advice on how to save money on witchcraft's most common items. I think this would be a great resource for every beginner witch, not so much for more experienced witches who have probably already sourced most of the stuff in this book.

My only real complaint is that this book is a rerelease with updated links and resources, and I wish the author had taken the time to maybe remove the Harry Potter references throughout the book, it was a bit disappointing seeing it in a book being issued in 2024, even if it was a reissue.

Witchcraft on a Shoestring by Deborah Blake is an amazing resource for the shelf of any thrifty witch or pagan. I had read an loved an early version of this text and am delighted to say that it continues to hold up well with citation and information updates that excellently build on what was already an amazing tool for me as a practitioner. I do think I will be buying a physical copy or two as gifts for my coven members when this book releases in March 2024.

I loved it!!! Many handy tips to work your magic without breaking your bank account. Lots of fun and neat ideas to try. This is a wonderful book to have on your magical bookshelf! I highly recommend it!🤩

In this economy witchcraft on a budget is but a dream. This book is amazingly informative and fun. Love the ideas and will try to incorporate them into my craft. Thanks for the book!

I have always been interested in Witchcraft so it has been great to learn more about Witchcraft but also learn how to explore it more on a budget.

I got this more because Im interested in Paganism and Witchcraft (as well as budgeting tips) than because I want the tips. I’m not personally religious or particularly spiritual so a lot of this book was new to me and still very interesting. I do think this is probably for people new to witchcraft rather than more experienced people. A lot of the information seems kind of obvious once its pointed out but is still very helpful

A lovely book on saving money within your witchcraft practice, particularly ideal for beginners.

With all of the showy, expensive items featured on social media, it's easy to forget the simple and cheap/free ways to, say, dress up your altar space (Embarrassed to admit a coat of high gloss paint did not occur to me until I read it in this book.) The 'Use This, Not That' chapter is brilliant, full of simple swaps to make to keep costs down. I also enjoyed the chapter on 30+ crafts to make as they're not only decor items and things to be used in the future in your practice, but spells within themselves in the moment you create them. I'm not the best at crafting, but there's plenty here that I would feel confident trying. (Planning on doing the home protection charm as soon as this review is posted!)

The kitchen magic section is an ideal addition, since the sabbats are often food and feast focused. We're all aware of what grocery prices look like at the moment. It's lovely to have not only all the recipes divided up by holiday, with dollar signs to show how expensive it will be, but also all the general tips for saving money on food and preparing for a crowd. The Yule ones are my favorite.

And lastly, I feel like no review of a witchcraft book is complete without saying that yes, there is a thorough bibliography - I appreciate the research and the inclusion of all of Blake's personal favorite books for further reading.

All in all, a quick read with useful tips. If you're already quite thrifty, I don't think there will be any new information in here for you. But if you suffer from the 'shiny object' syndrome like I do, it's helpful to refer to a book like this when you're feeling the urge to shop for more items you probably don't need.

Deborah Blake delivers a brilliant book, spelled out in highly consumable content that’s brimming with ways to ignite magic without breaking the bank. With loads of ideas that are perfect for practicing magic and upcycling items that you likely already have on hand. I love this approach which takes us back to our roots and agree that the most important premises of the practice are free. Blake encourages us to get resourceful, while simultaneously awakening our inner crafty + witchy muse. While I don’t agree with every single thing Blake’s written, that’s the beauty of it — we are all walking our own path to craft an extraordinary life and sharing insight along the way. My favorite section was definitely the “50 was to practice witchcraft for little or no money.” Quite magical ✨♥️🔥

NetGalley review

I absolutely loved this book. It’s much needed, I think the glamour of the internet good away the simplicity of what being and practicing pagan is. I know I am partially biased to this author but she again never disappoints .
So many resource and some you wouldn’t even think about.

Highly recommend this to everyone and most of all the babies pagans out there just getting started.