Hey, I totally understand!!!
We're about to close on a house-so we're trying to scrimp and save too...but, I ordered from PetSmart with a friend, and only bought the "Essentials". Maybe you could place an order with a friend or two, just to get the free shipping? If you're getting food, pee pads, and bones, then it adds up fast, and you always know you'll use it up eventually. The prices are pretty good, especially with the bigger packages of stuff.