Hey Disgirl
HAve you considered flat nappies as a way to go cloth cheaply? They're not hard to use and are great for when it's raining as they dry very quickly. Best of all they're cheap. We often use them when we're at home, and save the 'better' ones for when we're out and about. If you need extra absorbancy you can add boosters (BBH, for example, sells bamboo cloths you can fold up and put in nappies).
Just a thought