Second-hand shops are a great place to look for kitchen gear, such as used casserole dishes, neat vintage bowls, drinking glasses, pots, pans, and utensils. Plus these stores often carry items that are out of the ordinary and definite conversation pieces. Some of my favorite kitchen wear came from used stores, flea markets or yard sales.
Cookbooks
Cookbooks are easy to come by for meal ideas if you know where to look. Borrow some from your local library or check out second-hand bookstores.
The Internet
Don’t forget about the wealth of information that the Internet provides. Use keywords in search engines, such as “budget recipes”, “frugal cooking”, or “economical meal ideas” to find cheap recipes.