So I'm poor. My spare is flat.

Should I:
- get the tire fixed and hope for the best
- get a used tire, have it mounted (?) on the wheel
- get a new tire, mounted, etc.

I'm actually in no big rush to get this taken care of, as I don't really have anywhere I need to be with my automobile for a few days, but I would obviously like to get this taken care of soon.

Also, please correct me on my choice of verb. Do you mount a tire on the wheel? Hmm.

Obviously, I'll do the removing of the wheel from the car on my own, but after that...

Yep. Good times.

KPH

if the hole's in the tread and not the side then just get it patched.

If money is an issue and depending on the reason for the flat I would just get it repaired. It'll probably cost you about $30-40 bucks vs buying a brand new one and you'll have a mismatched tire with your others. Plus it'll be much more than $40.

If it's something like a nail in the tire or the like the local tire shop should be able to adequately repair it.

On my old tires I had a nail in one and got it repaired and it ran for another 40,000 miles with no problem.

cool. that's the direction i was leaning in...

now i need to find someone who'll let me borrow their car. hmmmm....

KPH

You can even get aerosol-like cans for temporary patches, if it is a small/slow leak. I've never used one, though, but I hear they work.

The tire shop will tell you if they can patch the tire. That would be the cheapest option, otherwise a mismatched tire isn't that bad.