Well poor pitiful you --- keep on quilting and you'll have a ton of friends!!!! Your BEST friends will be here! I'm with the others -- I don't buy all the rulers that patterns call for. If the rulers I have don't work, then I trace the pattern (if possible) on paper and cut it out. Another option is talk to the local quilt shop, tell them you can't afford to buy all of them and ask if they have any you can use in the shop. Some of the shops are VERY willing.