I always check google to see if some materials can be acquired more easily.

Honestly, some materials sound so rare but are sold for dirt cheap by NPC.

My first-hand experience: I was trying to acquire a teleporter for my new house. I checked my crafting log, no dice. I then checked MB and realized how expensive it is. I finally remembered to Google. And surprise, it is dirt cheap from GC (if you have the right rank).