I use aspen shred(shavings) which is cheap and available at places like Petsmart or TractorSupply. You'll get a ginormous block of compressed shavings for like... $10?

Hide spots can easily be the cheapo plastic storage containers with a hole cut/burned into it that's big enough for the widest part of the snake. Just get a solid color container with a lid, cut the entrance in the side or bottom, turn it upside down and blamo, cheap easy hide. You can also use plastic bowls, turned upside down as well, it doesn't have to be fully contained.

If the snake is smaller still, you can also use things like the flowerpot dishes(they go underneath a pot to catch drips?).

Snakes don't need fancy, they couldn't care less if the hide spot cost you $20 or $0.20. They just want a tight small dark spot to coil up in.

I've even used cardboard boxes of various sizes, but they pretty much have to be thrown out every week or so as they get soiled. The plastic containers can be washed as needed.