Cycling??? It's not steroids, it's just creatine.
Re budget, a years worth of creatine is about $30, if you can't afford that you need a better job.
Just take 5 gram a day, any time you like, I generally have mine mixed into my workout drink lately, 15 grams of BCAA's and 5gram of creatine in a huge shaker with a full tray of ice cubes topped up with water, before that used to have it before bed, does not matter when you have it as long as you have it.