Put them in pots until you know where you want to put them in your landscape.

our problem is that we have EXTREMLY limited funds. i don't have enough pots or dirt. if i dig dirt from the ground i might as well stick them in the ground till i know where i want to put them. i don't have much money to buy the things i need to ammend the soil so where what would be a good way to start? compost? manure? peat moss? it is solid clay soil.

I buy "top soil" from Home Depot for $1.14 per 40 lb bag. It is part dirt, part amendments and I find it makes an inexpensive amendment to clay soil.

Soil amendments need not be expensive. Dekalb and Cobb County both have free compost (do a search on this forum to find out about it). Check Craigslist or Freecycle. Also be sure to check out the Farmer's Market Bulletin. Leaves, clippings and fallen pine needles may be a nuisance to your neighbors and they might let you have them for free.

And you may want to consider leaving some back-breaking work behind and use raised beds. Maybe some lasagna gardening. :-)

One thing that has helped me when I have those extra plants but their permanent (haha) home isn't ready is a temporary bed. I immediately built one bed as a "holding pen" and still use it.

Good luck!
~Michelle

Here is a link that might be useful: GA Farmer's Market Bulletin

Read up on "lasagna gardening." You just start layering stuff like newspapers and grass clippings and old leaves. All of which you should be able to get for free. Then when you get the layers in place you plant the stuff right into the layers. Easiest way to amend your soil and you don't have to wait. If you don't have enough newspapers and grass clippings ask neighbors to save some for you.