Hello Elaine,
Unfortunately until you get back beyond the limits set within Scotlands People for bmds - you have as you said to order extracts. Once you're looking for births before I think 1909, marriages before abt 1934 and deaths before 1958 ish you can download the entries for £1.20 - assuming a first time hit.
I don't know where you live. However the cheapest way if I were you would be to get as much info as you can chronically arranged, then contact the Search Room at the address below. It should be the best £15.00 ever spent on research. They should be able to work you back from 2006 and in an hour should get you back to 1855. I've visited their facility in person for an hour (a couple of years ago and they were very professional and helpful
http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/Births/bir/bir_searchroom.aspIf you have any queries - please get in touch.
Regards, Steve
www.familysearch.org is only of value once you get as far back as 1875 when it's really good, depending on what religion your ancestors were (Ideally the established church), and whether theyy bothered to record their marriages or births.
If you're on the mainland or in a largish town your local library will often have access to online services which can access census records for free - currently from 1901 back to 1841. Next year it'll be from 1911 back to 1841.
Quite often people on here will kindly do census look ups for you.
Is there a Family History Society local to where you live.
The following Rootschat link gives useful tips.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,24468.0.html