Tiling, contrary to popular belief, does not have to be expensive. Inexpensive tile can be found at most home improvement stores. Ask for an employee in tiling and then ask if there are any special buys in store now. The glass mosaic tile I used on my Salvation Army table was $5.00 per square foot. Special order tile in other colors of the same manufacturer sell for up to $25 a square foot.
Doing a few projects at the same time will be cost-effective. Once mastic (the base adhesive for tiling) is mixed, it needs to be used asap. Perhaps you have a coffee table or outdoor table that could use an easy-to-clean new look. You can always return unused tile to home improvement stores, so buy 20-25% more than you think you will need. Chances are good that you might break a few with a tile saw and you can't be stuck with mastic drying and no tile. On that note, put down the mastic in small, manageable sections - don't do an entire counter top or floor. ALWAYS dry fit your tile (lay it all out as it will be on the wall, counter top or floor) - that way, tiles can be marked and all cuts can be made ahead of time. This will save you MUCH frustration during the project and you can rent the tile saw when you are ready.
A note about grout: You might be tempted buy the cute little tub of premixed grout. Well, don't. Premixed grout is full of sand, is very difficult to get in between the tiles and can actually scratch your tile. Click the photo above and look at the grout lines - they aren't smooth, they're sandy and rough - that's premixed grout. Go for the box, do some math, and make what you need. You do NOT need to make the whole box at once as recommended. They just want you to buy more grout.
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