I think the best firestart for the money is the six inch long 1/2 inch diameter ferrocerium rod.    From Wordnik.com.  [Firestarter] Reference

They make a cool collapsible ferrocerium fire-starter too.    From Wordnik.com.  [Original Signal - Transmitting Gadgets] Reference

The alloy ferrocerium is used to a small extent in iron and steel.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Economic Aspect of Geology] Reference

And that if using flint and steel (not to be confused with ferrocerium igniters) to start a fire it is extremely beneficial to use charcloth.    From Wordnik.com.  [SurvivalBlog.com] Reference

So if you're on a tight budget, I'd start out with the necessities like dried or canned goods, garden seeds, matches and ferrocerium fire starters, and other items where the benefits greatly outweigh the cost, like first aid supplies.    From Wordnik.com.  [SurvivalBlog.com] Reference