Yule on a Budget: Complete Shopping List Under $40
- Wendy H.
- Nov 14
- 11 min read
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You don't need much to celebrate Yule.
You don't need a fully stocked metaphysical shop, an elaborate altar setup, or a three-page shopping list.
You need: something that marks the return of light, something that smells like winter, something that makes your space feel intentional.
That's it.
Yule falls on December 21, 2025—the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year. It's the turning point when darkness begins to give way to light, when the sun starts its slow return.
You can celebrate this with candles from the dollar store, evergreen clippings from your yard, and oranges from the grocery store.
This isn't about spending money to prove you're "doing it right." It's about marking a moment that matters.
Here's everything you need to celebrate Yule for under $40—with context for how to actually use each item, not just own it.
What You Actually Need for Yule
Before we get into the shopping list, let's be clear about what Yule celebrates:
The return of light. The winter solstice marks the longest night of the year. After this, the days gradually lengthen. Fire and light are central symbols.
Evergreen as endurance. While other plants go dormant, evergreens stay green through winter. They're symbols of life persisting through darkness.
Warmth and gathering. Historically, Yule was celebrated with feasting, fires, and community. Modern practice can be as simple as lighting a candle with intention.
Rest and reflection. This is the deepest point of winter. It's a time to slow down, not speed up.
You don't need specialized tools. You need a few meaningful items that help you mark this turning point.
The Complete Yule Shopping List (Under $40)
1. White or Gold Taper Candles - $5-6
What to buy: Pack of 10-12 white or gold taper candles
Where: Amazon, Target, Dollar Tree
Price: $5-6
Why you need them: Fire and light are the core of Yule. The tradition of the Yule log—a large log burned throughout the celebration—symbolized the returning light and brought protection during winter.
You don't need a massive log. Candles do the same work: they mark the return of light in a tangible, watchable way.
How to use them:
Light one candle on the solstice at sunset and watch it burn as the longest night begins
Place candles on your altar or windowsill throughout the Yule season (December 21 - January 1)
Use them for any Yule rituals or reflection practices
Burn one each of the 12 days of Yule if you're observing the full season
Cheaper alternative: Dollar Tree sells packs of taper candles for $1.25. They're shorter and burn faster, but they work perfectly. Or use tea lights (50-pack for $5-7).
Recommended product: Chime candles in white or gold - 24 pack
2. Faux Evergreen Garland or Wreath - $8-20
What to buy: 6-foot faux pine garland OR small evergreen wreath
Where: Amazon, Michael's, Walmart
Price: $8-20
Why you need it: Evergreens reminded ancient peoples that life continued even when other plants lost their leaves, and that green growth would eventually return.
Bringing evergreen into your home during Yule is one of the oldest winter solstice traditions. It's a physical reminder: life persists, even through darkness.
How to use it:
Drape garland on your mantel, altar, or doorway
Hang a wreath on your door or above your altar
Place small sprigs around candles (not too close—fire safety)
Use it as the base of your Yule altar setup
Keep it up through January to mark the full Yule season
Free alternative: If you have access to pine, cedar, or fir trees, clip small branches yourself. They'll dry out over the season, but that's part of the cycle. (Only take from your own property or with permission.)
Recommended products:
Simple pine garland - 6 feet
Mini evergreen wreath - 12 inches (Amazon link)
3. Fresh Oranges + Whole Cloves - $4-5
What to buy: 3-4 oranges + jar of whole cloves
Where: Grocery store (produce section + spice aisle)
Price: $4-5 total
Why you need them: Pomanders (oranges studded with cloves) are a traditional Yule craft that serves multiple purposes: decoration, natural air freshener, and a meditative activity.
The orange represents the sun (which is being "reborn" at the solstice). The cloves add warm spice and help preserve the orange so it dries instead of rotting.
How to use them:
Take an orange and press whole cloves into the peel in whatever pattern you like (spirals, random dots, geometric designs)
The more cloves you use, the longer it will last and the stronger it will smell
Place pomanders on your altar, in bowls around your home, or hang them with ribbon
They'll dry out over several weeks and can last for months
Alternative: Skip the pomander and just put orange peels in a small pot of simmering water with cinnamon sticks for a temporary winter scent.
Tip: Use a toothpick to pre-poke holes in the orange peel if the cloves are hard to press in. Makes it much easier.
4. Ribbon (Gold, Silver, or Red) - $3-4
What to buy: 10-15 feet of ribbon in winter colors
Where: Dollar Tree, Walmart, craft stores
Price: $3-4
Why you need it: Ribbon is the most versatile item on this list. It ties everything together—literally and symbolically.
How to use it:
Tie around candles (at the base, not where they'll catch fire)
Create bows for your evergreen garland or wreath
Hang pomanders
Wrap around your altar cloth for a finished look
Tie intention notes or wishes to evergreen branches
Use as a simple decoration on anything that needs a festive touch
Color meaning:
Gold: The sun, light, prosperity
Silver: The moon, reflection, intuition
Red: Warmth, life force, vitality
Green: Nature, growth, evergreen endurance
Pick whatever feels right. This isn't prescriptive.
Recommended product: Satin ribbon variety pack in winter colors
5. Pine or Winter-Scented Candle - $6-8
What to buy: One large jar candle in pine, fir, cedar, winter forest, or "Yule" scent
Where: Target, Walmart, TJ Maxx, Amazon
Price: $6-8
Why you need it: Scent is powerful for creating atmosphere. A winter-scented candle makes your space immediately feel like Yule without any effort.
While your taper candles are for ritual and intention, this candle is for ambiance. Light it while you're cooking, reading, or just existing in your space during the Yule season.
How to use it:
Burn it during the 12 days of Yule (December 21 - January 1)
Light it during any Yule rituals or reflection time
Use it to make your space feel cozy and intentional
Pair it with your other Yule decorations for a complete sensory experience
Scent suggestions:
Pine, fir, or cedar (classic evergreen)
Balsam or winter forest
Cinnamon + clove
Frankincense or myrrh (if you like resinous scents)
"Winter solstice" or "Yule" blends (many indie candle makers create these)
Alternative: Pine essential oil ($6-8) in a diffuser. Or simmer pine needles, orange peels, and cinnamon sticks in water on the stove for a free winter scent.
Recommended products:
6. Simple Altar Cloth (Winter Colors) - $8-12
What to buy: Small fabric piece in cream, white, forest green, burgundy, or gold
Where: Amazon, craft stores, thrift stores
Price: $8-12
Why you need it: An altar cloth creates a dedicated space. It signals: "This area is intentional. This is where I mark what matters."
You don't need a fancy altar cloth. You need a piece of fabric that defines your Yule space and looks like winter.
How to use it:
Lay it on a shelf, table, or windowsill
Arrange your candles, evergreen, pomanders, and other Yule items on top
Use it to create a visual boundary between "everyday clutter" and "intentional ritual space"
Keep it up through the Yule season, then put it away for next year
Size: Small altar: 12"x12" or 16"x16" Larger space: 18"x24" or 20"x30"
You don't need it to cover an entire table. You just need it to define a space.
Cheaper alternatives:
Use a kitchen towel in winter colors ($3-5 at Target)
Cut a piece of fabric from the remnants bin at a craft store ($2-4)
Use a cloth napkin or placemat you already own
Thrift a scarf in winter colors ($1-3)
Recommended products:
7. Cinnamon Sticks - $3-4
What to buy: Small jar or bag of cinnamon sticks
Where: Grocery store (spice aisle) or Amazon
Price: $3-4
Why you need them: Cinnamon is warm, spicy, and associated with abundance and prosperity. It's also incredibly versatile for Yule decorating and ritual.
How to use them:
Tie cinnamon sticks to your evergreen garland with ribbon
Place them on your altar as natural decoration
Add them to simmering potpourri (orange peels + cloves + cinnamon sticks in water)
Bundle 3 cinnamon sticks together with ribbon as a simple Yule decoration
Burn them in a fire-safe dish for natural incense (they'll smoke and smell amazing)
Use them in any kitchen magic or Yule baking
Alternative: Ground cinnamon works for scent and kitchen magic, but you can't use it for decoration. If you're on a tight budget, skip this item and just use cinnamon you already have in your pantry.
Recommended product: Organic cinnamon sticks - 2oz
Your Complete Yule Shopping List Summary
Item | Price | Where to Buy |
White/gold taper candles (pack) | $5-6 | Amazon, Target, Dollar Tree |
Faux evergreen garland or wreath | $8-12 | Amazon, Michael's, Walmart |
Fresh oranges (3-4) + whole cloves | $4-5 | Grocery store |
Ribbon (gold/silver/red) | $3-4 | Dollar Tree, Walmart |
Pine-scented jar candle | $6-8 | Target, Walmart, Amazon |
Altar cloth (small) | $8-12 | Amazon, craft stores, thrift stores |
Cinnamon sticks | $3-4 | Grocery store, Amazon |
TOTAL | $37-51 | Mix of stores |
To stay under $40:
Use cheaper candle alternatives (Dollar Tree tapers, tea lights)
Make your own altar cloth from a kitchen towel or thrifted scarf
Forage your own evergreen instead of buying faux
Skip the cinnamon sticks if you already have ground cinnamon
What You Don't Need to Buy
Let's be clear about what's not on this list:
❌ Crystals (nice, but not necessary for Yule)
❌ Incense (cinnamon sticks or simmering potpourri work just as well)
❌ Fancy athame or ritual tools (you don't need ceremonial objects to mark the solstice)
❌ Specific Yule deity statues (unless that's part of your practice)
❌ Expensive "Yule kits" from metaphysical shops (usually overpriced and full of things you don't need)
❌ Books about Yule (you can find everything you need online for free)
The items on this list are functional. They create atmosphere, mark the season, and give you tools for simple rituals.
Everything else is optional enhancement.
Simple Ways to Use Your Yule Supplies
Now that you have everything, here's how to actually use it:
Option 1: Basic Yule Altar Setup
Lay your altar cloth on a shelf, table, or windowsill
Arrange evergreen garland along the back
Place taper candles in the center (use candle holders if you have them)
Add pomanders and cinnamon stick bundles around the candles
Drape ribbon as accents
That's your altar. It marks the space. It looks like winter. It's intentional.
Option 2: Yule Candle Ritual (Solstice Night)
On December 21, at sunset:
Light your pine-scented jar candle
Sit with it for a few minutes in the growing darkness
Light a taper candle and say: "The light returns. The wheel turns. I welcome the sun's rebirth."
Watch the flame for 5-10 minutes
Reflect on what you're leaving behind in the darkness and what you're calling into the light
Let the taper candle burn down completely if possible. This represents the full return of the light.
Option 3: Make Pomanders While Reflecting
Pomander-making is meditative and doesn't require any special skill:
Light your scented candle
Put on music or sit in silence
Take an orange and start pressing cloves into the peel
As you work, think about the year behind you and the year ahead
Each clove can represent something you're grateful for or an intention for the coming light
There's no wrong way to do this. Random placement is fine. Patterns are fine. Just let it be a quiet, focused activity.
Option 4: 12 Days of Yule Candle Practice
Yule isn't just one day—it's traditionally celebrated for 12 days (December 21 - January 1).
Simple practice: Light one taper candle each evening at sunset. Watch it burn for a few minutes. Notice how the light is returning—each day is a little longer than the last.
That's it. That's the practice.
You're marking time. You're watching the wheel turn. You're noticing.
Where to Shop for the Best Prices
Amazon - Best for: Candles, altar cloths, ribbon, bulk items
Price-check everything
Read reviews carefully
Look for multi-packs to save money
Dollar Tree - Best for: Candles, ribbon, small decorative items
Taper candles: $1.25 for 2-4 candles
Ribbon spools: $1.25
Tea lights: $1.25 for 8-12
Target/Walmart - Best for: Scented candles, evergreen garland, seasonal items
Check the holiday/seasonal aisles for sales
Store-brand candles are often cheaper and just as good
Grocery Store - Best for: Oranges, cloves, cinnamon sticks
Buy whatever's in season and on sale
Spices are often cheaper at grocery stores than specialty shops
Thrift Stores - Best for: Altar cloths, fabric, unique finds
Look in the linens section for scarves, napkins, or small tablecloths
Winter colors: cream, burgundy, forest green, gold
Craft Stores (with coupons) - Best for: Ribbon, fabric, garland
Never pay full price—use their 40-50% off coupons
Check the clearance section after Christmas for next year's supplies
Making It Even Cheaper
If even $40 feels like too much, here's how to celebrate Yule for under $20:
The $20 Yule:
Taper candles from Dollar Tree: $2.50 (2 packs)
Fresh oranges + cloves from grocery store: $4
Forage evergreen from your yard or a friend's property: Free
Ribbon from Dollar Tree: $1.25
Kitchen towel as altar cloth: $3-5 (or use one you already own)
Ground cinnamon from your pantry: Free
Scent: Simmer orange peels + cinnamon on the stove: Free
Total: $10-13
Or go even simpler: one candle, one orange, some evergreen from outside. That's Yule.
What Makes This "Yule" and Not Just "Winter Decorating"
You might be thinking: "This is just... candles and evergreens. What makes it Yule?"
The difference is intention.
You're not decorating because it looks nice (though it does). You're marking a specific moment in time: the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year, when the sun begins its return and the days start growing longer.
You're acknowledging:
The darkness has reached its peak
The light is returning
Life persists even through winter
This is a turning point worth noticing
That's what makes it Yule. The attention. The marking of the moment.
Everything else is just the tool you use to focus that attention.
Yule Doesn't Require More
Here's what I've learned after years of celebrating the wheel of the year:
The best rituals aren't the most expensive or elaborate.
The best rituals are the ones you actually do.
If you're choosing between a $200 Yule altar setup that feels intimidating and a $40 setup that feels doable—choose doable.
If you're choosing between perfect aesthetic and simple function—choose function.
If you're choosing between "Instagrammable witch vibes" and "this actually helps me slow down and mark the solstice"—choose the latter.
You don't need more stuff. You need less distraction.
The candle isn't magical. The evergreen isn't magical. The orange studded with cloves isn't magical.
The pause is magical.
The moment you stop running and say: "The light is returning. I'm here to witness it."
That's Yule.
And you can do that with whatever you have.
Getting Started With Yule This Year
Your first Yule practice (this weekend if you're reading this in time):
December 21, at sunset:
Light one candle
Sit with it for 5 minutes as darkness falls
Say (aloud or silently): "The light returns. The wheel turns."
Notice how you feel
That's it.
Everything else—the decorations, the altar, the pomanders, the 12-day practices—is optional enhancement.
The core is: noticing the turning point. Marking the return of light.
If you have $40 and want to create a fuller experience, use this shopping list.
If you have less, do less.
If you have more, you still don't need to spend it—more stuff won't make the solstice more meaningful.
Start simple. Start now. Start with one candle and your attention.
That's enough.
Related Posts
12 Days of Yule Journal - Daily prompts for the Yule season
5 Simple Winter Solstice Rituals for Modern Witches - Easy practices for busy people
The Lazy Girl's Guide to Candle Magic - How to work with candles without overcomplicating it
Winter Solstice vs. Christmas: Understanding Yule - The history and meaning of the season
Happy Yule. May you welcome the returning light.
What are you celebrating this winter solstice? Let me know in the comments.
Shopping Links Summary
White/Gold Taper Candles - Amazon
Faux Evergreen Garland - Amazon
Small Evergreen Wreath - Amazon
Satin Ribbon Variety Pack - Amazon
Cedar & Balsam Jar Candle - Amazon
Winter Forest Jar Candle - Amazon
Linen Table Runner (Cream) - Amazon
Velvet Altar Cloth (Burgundy) - Amazon
Organic Cinnamon Sticks - Amazon
All links are Amazon affiliate links. Prices current as of 11/14/25 and may vary.