I don't have any 74HC595 available locally. Checked pricing from Digi-key and James Electronics which is about $0.50 (US) each. Each have a minimum order amount ($25 Digi-Key and $20 James electronics). Any order below that has a $5 handling charge. Shipping is about $7 for both. All of this for a $0.50 IC.

Why not just stock up on capacitors or resistors to get to the $25, e. g. you KNOW you will need decoupling caps. You also might throw in a few MAX232s.

Erik