One of the simplest low cost ways you could try and control your symptoms is diet modification. It worked for me and none of the UC drugs, expensive or otherwise worked.
You do not need to spend any extra money, in fact you could perhaps spend LESS.
here is the basic information
www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/you don't need to buy the book. I didn't until I was well under way to remission. All the basics are online. There is even a support group on Yahoo.
The basics of it are: eliminate sugar, starch (including starchy veggies including potatoes) grains (wheat, corn, rice and others). Eat protein (chicken, beef, canned salmon or tuna, fresh fish if you afford it, no soy products) and eat green and non-starchy vegetables.
Yes fish oil, olive oil, coconut oil are all good. They are anti-inflammatories.
Also you can get your probiotics cheaply from simple homemade yogurt (Recipe is posted in this forum, search for the thread).
I am not saying don't take medications. I still take 6 pills a day (Balsalazide) even though I am not sure it ever did anything to help much UC but since I achieved remission I'm continuing to not change anything right now.
I did modify the SCDiet to fit my gut because it allows fruit, juices and yogurt which my gut did not like. I eliminated them also.
The diet doesn't cost any extra but it does cost some time on your part for preparing food. Convenience and fast foods are a thing of the past. But I am healthy, happy and for the first time in 10 years IN REMISSION.
Best of luck. Money doesn't cure everything after all, at least not in my case.