Are You a Thrifty Fiberista?

I hate to say this, but occasionally I find knitting and crocheting to be expensive.  I mean, I can buy some man-made fibers that are adequate and cheap, but I really crave working with natural fibers and that can be prohibitive on a fixed or limited income.  Also, acquiring all the notions that can be so handy to have can be quite an added investment. In the past I have gone to thrift stores and the like to purchase used needles and hooks, or wool sweaters that I unravel for the wool. 

A while ago a wonderfully talented and beautiful friend, Heather Kinne of Highland Handmades and host of The Fiberista Files, told me how she snips straws into little stitch markers!  I love thrifty tips like that.  Do you have any thrifty tips that you would like to share with me and any of those who read this blog so that we can all be a bit more thrifty?

I will share one of mine to get us started.  I like to save the little ends that I trim off after weaving in the ends on my projects and use them as stuffing.  I just save them all up in a resealable bag and when I get ready to use them I stuff them in a section of old pantyhose so they don't poke out through my knitted or crocheted project.  I hope some of you will comment on this blog with your thrifty tips!