What I have been doing is going to a place here locally called the Family Dollar. They have clocks that they sell for 3-6 bucks with the quartz movements. I usually wait for them to go on sale and then make sure that they will fit the depth of my project and take out the clock, throw away the rest, then use them in my projects. I can get them from 2 to 3 bucks each. It is the inserts that are hard to find.
It seems to me if you can build a whole clock and send it here for 3 bucks, then there should be movements that could be sent here for a similar price. I have been to a Chinese site where in bulk they are much less than a buck, I hate to pay 10 bucks for something I know was bought for pennies. Over a thousand percent profit is out of line for me.
While shopping for Christmas I saw some clocks with inserts being sold at Bi-Mart. After Christmas I went and looked again and they were on sale for 3 bucks each. I bought them all.
Sometimes the shanks on the quartz movements are a bit short, so I have a fostner bit I use to shorten the depth of my workpiece.
Maybe this will help some others with ideas to get the same product for half the price.
Randy
Any other cheapskates have tricks you would like to share to save money?