Prioritizing Paid Tools vs. Free Trust-Building for Independent Doc Performance?

Hey everyone, I'm Amara, a documentary filmmaker currently knee-deep in pre-production for a verité-style doc. We're working with non-actors, and authentic performances are absolutely critical to the project's success. I'm trying to figure out our budget. I see recommendations for things like paid casting sites, renting dedicated rehearsal spaces even for non-actors (for team bonding, really), and collaboration software like Frame.io for feedback. But these costs add up quickly for an indie budget.

On the other hand, I've always focused on free, organic trust-building: spending time with subjects, sharing meals, explaining the process clearly. I'm wondering if those direct, free approaches are more valuable for performance quality in a doc, especially with non-actors, than investing in more 'professional' tools. How do you all prioritize these kinds of expenses against truly organic, trust-building activities to get the best out of your subjects on a limited budget?