Contact the local eco-people. You know, the ones who are constantly lobbying for cleaner water, better building practices and against dumping in ecological areas? Many of them would be thrilled to aid someone dedicated to reusing and recycling material instead of buying new. There are many eco-friendly options for the fixer-upper that your local green store may be able to hook you up with.

Never underestimate casual opportunity. If you see people demolishing a house or part of a house and it looks like they're getting rid of stuff you want, offer to take it off their hands. You may be able to get it for free or for a much lower price than you would pay elsewhere - especially if you have cash on hand. It usually helps to have a good idea what the item you're bargaining for costs on the open market.

Your local reclaim operation may have just what you're looking for. Many of these operations exist solely on reclaimed wood and other materials, transforming it into flooring and other products and reselling it. If you're looking for wood and can't find it anywhere else, your last port of call is here, where they will sell you reclaimed wood (for a price).

With a little ingenuity, you can obtain useful materials with very little outlay of cash. Not to mention, patting yourself on the back for recycling.

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