Yea it's cheaper to craft by yourself, but it's faster to just spend some cash instead. That's what i meant by not hoarding your money. Unless you guys have a cash flow problem? And what about sneak, lockpick, onehand, archery and so on. Can't just go buy shit to level. If it's already low it can be a pain to get up. So if you have the cash, why sit on it. Use it for some fast leveling of those crucial skills that you need. 3 points away from getting that awesome perk in a combat skill? Well go train instead of playing 3 hours to reach it is my advice. BTW if you have a problem with cash a good way to earn it is to by Iron Ore from vendors. then get the Minerals Transmutation spell (adept alteration spell) When you used that spell it will turn Iron ore to Silver ore, and then Silver ore to Gold Ore. Then start hoarding Iron Ore and stash it. Once you have plenty just put on your best magic regen gear and start transmuting everything. Then smelt it down to Ingots and start making jewelry of it. Boosts smithing and gets you cash big time when you sell it all.

Oh and if money ain't a problem, best place to get Ebony is from vendor

The weapons & armor vendor in Whiterun usually have 5 Ebony Ingots to sell for me. Don't know if thats because I'm lvl37 or if it's because i sell high level gear to him. Don't remember him selling fancy things like that early on in the game. So if i really need it i will just buy, wait/sleep for 48 hours then repeat until i have the desired number. But so far i have only needed Ebony to improve my weapons and armor i have found since i don't have the crafting skill. I went Elven, Improved, Glass and Dragon since i don't use heavy armor myself. but my weapon problem have fixed itself now.

SPOILER

i went and did all the Daedric quests i had in my journal. And one (think it was Molag Bal) gave me a one hand mace that when upgraded has almost 90 damage and an awesome enchantment on it. It does 20 stamina and 20 magic damage and if the target dies within 3 seconds of getting hit he will fill a soul gem. So now i have soulgems to replenish the charges to. But when i went to Winterhold for a quest, the townsfolk started telling me "Get that cursed mace away from me" and shit so seem at some places people know what it is. My guess is at some point i will get attacked by some group just for wearing it.