Practical vs. VFX: Striking the Balance on a Shoestring?

Hey everyone,

I'm Simone, a 2nd AD working on an indie short, and we're really trying to make every dollar count. We're aiming for a slightly fantastical element in our story, but the budget for art department and sets is, frankly, miniscule.

I've seen a lot of advice about a 'Practical/Digital Hybrid' approach, which sounds great in theory, but I'm struggling with the practical application when funds are so tight. For example, we need a specific creature's 'lair.' Is it always better to build a partial set piece and try to extend it with VFX, or would a completely digital environment be more cost-effective if the practical build looks too cheap? We've experimented with some rough models in Blender, but the render times and artist fees add up.

How do you veteran filmmakers decide the right balance between building physical sets and relying on visual effects when your indie budget is extremely limited? What's your internal thought process for making that call?