The SCA on a Budget

The five principles from Lady Katherine Ashewode (https://wiki.eastkingdom.org/index.php?title=SCA_Without_Breaking_the_Bank) “from cheapest to least cheap”:

1. Get it free
2. Get someone to help you, or barter for it
3. Pay someone from the SCA to make it for you
4. Get it used at discount (garage sales, thrift stores, etc.)
5. Get it cheap (warehouse, sales, etc.)

Some of my overall strategies:

• Consider an early-period persona. Simple garb.
• Before buying stuff, ask yourself: Will it fit my persona?
• Consider an overall color scheme for your clothing.
• Save your pennies for the “big stuff” (helms, musical instruments, etc.)
• Learn one of the “arts and crafts” reasonably well (so you have objects to barter for things you cannot make yourself).

MAKING STUFF

Known World Handbook (purchase from SCA Marketplace on SCA.org)

Cariadoc’s Miscellany: http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/cariadoc/miscellany.html

https://sites.google.com/site/stbrigidshearth/pennywiseprojects

https://sites.google.com/site/stbrigidshearth/pennywisepeasantloafers

https://gawinkappler.blogspot.com/2013/02/sca-on-budget.html

http://gawinkappler.blogspot.com/2013/04/persona-and-kit.html

http://gawinkappler.blogspot.com/2015/05/striking-balance-buy-it-make-it-trade-it.html

http://gawinkappler.blogspot.com/2014/11/where-to-buy-stuff-on-budget-sometimes.html

http://cunnan.lochac.sca.org/index.php/To_participate_in_the_SCA_on_a_small_budget

http://www.ravenscove.atlantia.sca.org/forFighters/Building%20an%20Armored%20Kit%20on%20a%20Budget.pdf

https://www.reddit.com/r/sca/comments/4nyu9f/best_way_to_make_garb_on_the_cheap/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-iXqD9x-3g

https://ilsa-makes-things.tumblr.com/post/143431877740/garb-on-a-budget-what-fabrics-to-buy-and-what-to

http://scafighter.blogspot.com/2017/06/low-cost-armor-update-june-2017.html

https://www.reddit.com/r/sca/comments/4f8ugg/heavy_sparring_gear_on_a_budget/

http://kelly.dwarfworks.com/sca/armor/gettingStarted.php (Getting started with rapier)

http://ravenscove.atlantia.sca.org/forFighters/Building%20an%20Armored%20Kit%20on%20a%20Budget.pdf

https://sca-nerd.tumblr.com/post/190038903553/sca-on-a-budget

IN REAL LIFE

Thrift stores and yard sales (mundane)

• Good for: Baskets, mugs and other feast gear, sheets, curtains, tablecloths, parts of clothing that can be repurposed (fur, buttons), odds and ends
• Not so good for: complete medieval outfits
• Caveats: wash fabric thoroughly, examine baskets and other goods

Older relatives who are downsizing

• Good for: sewing machines, yarn, sewing notions, dishes, tablecloths and napkins
• Not so good for: patterns (unless a costumer)

“Lochmart” (Lochmere) and silent auctions

• Good for: all sorts of things
• Lochmart: Easy way to sell things you thought you would use, but didn’t
• Caveat: Occasionally some items get bid up high. Sometimes people are dumping their beginner gear that is all stained or not really appropriate or fits hardly anybody.

Borrowing, person-to-person trades, gifts and hand-me-downs

• Good for: some armor and weapons, lots of other things
• Caveat: A good helm is going to cost you something. You want NEW groin protection.

Pennsic Barter Town Event (watch Pennsic Independent for date and time)

IN CYBERSPACE

Facebook groups that may be useful (besides local and Kingdom branches):

• The Great Atlantian Marketplace
• SCA Medieval Barter Town (barter only)
• SCA Crash Space Network (for travel, not goods)
• Atlantian Rideshare & Crash Space (another travel group)
• InterKingdom Tradecycle
• SCA Armor Construction
• SCA/ Let's build some armor. Construction and how to's for the beginner
• Vikings of the SCA Marketplace
• SCA Yard Sale
• SCA Armor/For Sale

Freecycle Network (https://www.freecycle.org/)

• Good for: craft supplies, sometimes fabric or camping equipment
• Caveat: you may get a lot of unrelated offerings

Craigslist, eBay, other general online marketplaces

• Caveat #1: Never meet someone online. Always meet in a public space.
• Caveat #2: Be aware that sometimes armor is stolen.