If your family is on a budget, you may find yourself renting or buying a home with inadequate counter space. This becomes a problem when you don't have enough room to cook, but you can't afford to go out to eat on a regular basis. One simple solution is purchasing a kitchen island to instantly add both counter space and storage. However, kitchen islands can often cost hundreds of dollars. How do you get a cheap and affordable kitchen island when you're on a budget? Keep reading to find out.Measure Kitchen SpaceThe last thing you want to do is find a great deal on a kitchen island, order it, put it together and find out that it's too big for the space. Many companies make you pay either the shipping fee or a restocking fee on returned items, and you might not even be able to return the island if you've already opened and assembled it. Arm yourself with information about the dimensions of your kitchen before shopping, and keep in mind that you need enough space to move around the island comfortably.Secondhand IslandsUsed kitchen islands typically go for much less than new ones, so consider checking classifieds or used furniture shops. Because the kitchen island will probably be used as a cooking surface, be careful about cleanliness before agreeing to a sale. Stick with local sales so you can look at the island in person. If you're willing to do the work, you could take a beat up kitchen island and sand and seal the top.Shop OutletsMany retailers send good quality kitchen islands to outlet stores or overstock retailers because they're making room in their warehouse for new designs and models. There's nothing wrong with these islands besides perhaps a slightly outdated design. You can get as much as a 50 percent discount just for buying an older model.Kitchen islands add counter and storage space to a small kitchen, and they don't have to cost a lot of money. The greatest savings can be realized when purchasing used or overstock islands.