what do you mean used to? I stole the veggie crispers when I left Alaska

They got stuck together in the Uhaul somehow but I still use the one on top. Mr Magic Mushrooms lives in it now
Here is an old pic of the crispers in use in Alaska.
you do not have to get ALL the supplies you need RIGHT NOW. I didn't. I got paid every 2 weeks and almost all of my paycheck went to rent for my crappy apt, but I would save enough to make sure I could get a heater or two. I got most of mine off Ebay or amazon. It may take a week or two but if you keep looking you will find heaters for cheap.
it's actually easier to get 10 gallon tanks and divide it 3 ways - that way 3 fish and only 1 heater. I only have so many plugs in here so...For filters, I would look for air pumps that allow you to connect two sponge filters to it - one pump to filter two tanks :) You have to look online for sponge filters as I can not find them ANYWHERE in petco/petsmart or walmart. If you are using anything under 5 gallons, you don't really need to filter it - just do weekly water changes and clean the crap out of the gravel