Try saving up your gold and buying things that way. I have never used crowns in my life and instead save up gold to get things from the crown shop. Also, when you fight Malistaire, there is a slim chance that you get a lightening cat pet. Maybe something to think about when you say no to that black cat in the crown's shop that you're looking at
Haha :) I bought the Nightmare pet last year, and I have NOT regretted my purchase. After hatching and training for the past year he's given me 11% resistance, spritely, unicorn, and a fire blade which is helpful on my Fire wizard.
I know it's hard but don't give in it's really rewarding to earn gold I actually just earned 85,000 in gold to buy a permanent mount from the crowns shop and am now working on a house but in all honesty most of the game cost crowns which along with a membership a lot of people can't even afford i know that KI needs money to keep the game running but it's getting pretty ridiculous really.