Take it easy, just find a way you will feel happy to play this game. Even if no player pay for the game, you may still find some other players have methods of farming more tokens than you, and then you will feel unfair and unhappy again.

I also do not pay, and only get 35T per season. I never try to get any scout player, because I know I cannot afford. I avoid involving in long bidding war. Usually, I stop bidding after spending at most 3 or 4 tokens. Instead of enjoy winning all auctions, I enjoy smartly winning or even smartly withdrawing in bidding. If you are calm and patient, you can get many players with 1 or 2 tokens. Certainly, you cannot get the best players at will.

It is not realistic to expect winning every season. There is no fun if it is too easy. I enjoy challenging and upsetting stronger teams.