Sorry to hear of your troubles. I wouldn't want to have to buy a bunch of stuff I'd only use just to finish a block.
Having said that, at my favorite LQS (which really isn't that local, about 45 minutes away) I just took a 2 hour beginning FMQ class - the price? $15. Great deal. It's a great store. Of course she did have things to sell you that will make the job easier, but she certainly wasn't pushy about it.
There are a few shops closer, one I won't walk into again because the 2 ladies working in the shop were horrible, one kind of followed me around (trying to be discrete) and gave me the feeling she was trying to make sure I didn't steal anything, and the other one was very snobby. Too bad, because they did have some neat things. I just won't subject myself to that. The other closer shop doesn't have a very large selection. I did just learn of another one about 20 minutes from me and I hope to check that out in the next week or two.