Least expensive ways to obtain fabric:
Walmart (tends to have the lowest prices in my experience and some of the same fabrics as more expensive stores)
Estate/Garage Sales
Consignment shops
Using old clothes (everything from t-shirts to flannel or workshirts to blue jeans and more!)
Doing simpler patterns that require no fancy rulers, patterns or tools
Using a zigzag stitch to piece extra pieces of batting together so there is no waste.
Holding onto scraps
Right now, I am putting aside my husband's ripped (in the elbows!) workshirts and will make a quilt from them.
Hope this helps