[mummygeorgie]

Freecycle! I got a WHOLE bunch of terry flats by posting a wanted ad, some only washed and never used. Some I used as flats, others (generally the older thinner ones) I cut up and used in my own home-made nappies or boosters.
And then I have passed on some of my home-made or cheaply acquired nappies & covers via Freecycle.
Whenever I offer advice to newbies who want to be very frugal, I suggest flats and good easily-acquired covers (like Bummis SWW) with a few pockets for giong out/babysitters (pockets because they can be stuffed with just about anything so wind up pretty frugal).