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I can simpathize with working on a budget, my layouts have changed a few times in the past five years reflecting on current employement / housing situations. I may be repeating some of the other mentioned items but: Plan Plan PLAN. decide on layout size, if you don't have any set ideas for it ( ie. prototype) page through Model Railroader's books and mag's, buy a track templete or download atlas's right track software (Shareware version) and fiddle with the design. Once you have a basic plan then you can figure needs for items, track, wire and such. Make a Needs / Want list: ie: I need 3 switches for a industry, I want the new Walthers blast furnace and other building to go with it (don't we all want that....) Buy only what you need to. work in small sections. Wants come later as cash permits. Scratch build or use mock up buildings: I've gone into my favorite hobby shop with a pen and clip board to copy down measurements on buildings that i wanted but couldn't get right away. cardboard worked until I decided to get it some are still in use. House hold items in scenery work well, certain spices make great ground cover and smell good too (Note use older or rarely used spices they can be expensive) Lichen which is sold in the dried / fake plant area at walmart makes good in expensive trees, use a couple dowels, some floral wire you can make a variety of tree's (At least 20-30 with 2 dowels for under $3. look @ sales at local hobby shops, sometimes you can find good deals on flex or sectional track, damaged kits to kitbash, surplus / older stock that isn't moving. If you know someone who is tearing down a layout, see if you can salvage items from their's (Helps if you offer some money...) Train sets are at your own risk, sometimes it can worth it, back up power pack, some cars and a okay engine most times. hope this helps
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