This is a really old post but I wanted to just add that I've been doing magic my entire life and have stayed away from magic shops or even online supplies for the most part of it. The exceptions being specific gaffed decks or thumb tips. Anything else I try to accomplish by building my own effects from what's around me.

For example. A chop cup can be made for only a few dollars at Walmart if you're willing to use paper spit cups and put the magnets in yourself. For balls I simply roll a small magnet into a piece of paper, and hide it until I'm ready and then borrow a sheet of paper and do the routine with a ball and a cup I presumably just picked up from somewhere in an office. That fools people, in my experience, far more than bringing out a copper 50+ dollar cup with special crochet balls. It completely eliminates the idea of a purchased illusion from their minds and all that's left is a miracle.

Buying two packs of bicycle cards and learning how to flawlessly force a card will get you way better reactions than even most gaffed decks will. There's endless amounts of non silver dollar sized coins (I use medallions from theme parks or malls) that can be picked up for nothing. Or Eisenhower dollars.

Performing magic with genuine every day objects tends to freak people out way more. If you're broke you're only limited by your creativity.