Here's an idea for you Allen. Do you have metal pedals already with holes to attach clips and thread straps? If so, try posting here or road biking or bike mech or something, to the effect of "Hey, I'm an unemployed Clyde, so I can't afford clipless+shoes -- does anybody have a spare pare of clips/straps they could mail me?" I'm sure somebody would be willing to drop $2 postage to clear a little junk out of their garage. Given all the "I finally went clipless and I'm never looking back!" posts around here, there must be thousands of guys with unused cages/straps!
(If you have black plastic platform pedals, you could try the same approach asking for pedals+cages+straps; I bet you'd get lucky if you offered $5 to cover heavier postage. Note also you'll need probably a 15mm box-wrench (or a pricey "pedal wrench") to change your pedals out; and the Right pedal works Right (regular threading, righty-tighty, lefty-loosey) and the Left pedal is wrong (reverse threading))