The remnant bin is the first place I check at either the big box fabric store or LQS. One of our LQSs considers anything under 3 yds a remnant, and they take another 25% off the price. And do they ever have beautiful fabrics!! Another LQS also has a bits-n-pieces bin where you can have as much as you can fit into a ziploc baggie for $2.00.
To make our money go even further, one of my quilting buddies (who is also a 'scrapper') and I will split our remnant purchases.