Jack up the front and check out each side. Rock the wheel from side to side when holding the tire at the 3 & 9 o'clock positions. Feel for any play-- if you find it, find out whether it is the inner or outer tie rod end. Wiggle the wheel and see where the motion is getting lost. The ball joints should be checked for axial play (up-down) using a pry bar-- they are spring loaded-- if you see anything on the wiggle test, you shouldn't drive it!

Since you have the parts, I'd install them now-- it is mostly easy DIY work, with the only real hassle being separating the strut plate from the ball joint. I
have ended up cutting the dust boots off and grabbing the shaft of the joint with big vice grips and then hit the nut with an air gun.

When you're done, get it aligned. Some may scoff, but if money is tight, consider buying tires at a junkyard or from a used tire dealer (who gets them from junkyards). Also, have a look at craigslist and kijiji. I tend to buy snow tires in July this way. Another real money saver is to get a second set of used rims and keep summer tires on one set and snows on the other. Then you don't pay to swap them each season.

Rotating the tires back to front on each side for the short term is sensible unless the tire is really shot.

Good luck!