How to get started cheap

I got really big into skiing last year and I was on a super budget, however, I ended the season with good(ish) gear and will be passing it on to my friends that I'm dragging up the mountain this year. Here's what I gathered.
(1): GOODWILL IS YOUR FRIEND! I'm not talking about thrift shops, they rip you off most of the time. Try and find a store where people drop off their old unused stuff and buy from there. I found soloman boots and got k2 skis for $10, stole the bindings off, and put them on a pair of bases that I bought from a friend for $20.
(2) Try and buy a night pass to the resort, and make sure that your job is in the day so that you get off work/school and go straight to the mountain. Night-only passes are typically cheaper then the full-passes and you still shred up good snow from the snow machines and resorts always keep it well lit.
(3) Lose your dignity. Your gear is going to look insanely gaper but if you get lucky, you may not look so bad, but I doubt it.
(4) Look for sales!!! Labor day is a big one, and most stores use holidays before winter to start selling to get a base point for how many people are going to be skiing to see how much product they should bring into their store.
(5) Unnamed brands. Sorry, but for some reason a little bird in the top left of those sunglasses make them $300.
(6) Work a job with good tips!!! Sizzler, Magelby's, Olive Garden, just be a busser or waiter and watch the money roll in. I did it at Sonic and I make about $100 a week in tips working full time in summer, 10 weeks tips without pay and you're good for season!
Hope this helps you guys! Raise your cheap beer and hitch your house on your truck and lets go skiing!