Has anyone used shedded newspaper as a substrate?

Hey guys!
I'm in the process of setting up my tank for the new baby corn I got (and who should be shipped next week at some point) and I was thinking I might put some newspaper through a shredder - I know newspaper can be used as a substrate, but I thought it might be nicer for the snake if it had something to burrow in. Plus as a student I get free newpapers and it would be a nice way for me to save a couple bucks! Any thoughts on this? Has anyone done it?
Thanks

P.S. If anyone has helpful hints or neat ideas for the tank that would be great! I saw a picture of someone else's tank who put in a paper towl roll, which I though was a great way to make a hide and save money - so any cute ideas would be wonderful! I did read the basics of how to set it up... I'm just trying to be inventive!

I think shredded news paper is a great idea. I snagged a few garbage bags full of birch shavings from a wood turner, they work pretty nice. It was a free alternative to buying aspen from the pet shop.
Big bags of cypress garden mulch are pretty dang cheep.

If you're going to go with a cheap, easy to clean substrate I'd say that shredded sounds much more appealing than flat newspaper because (like you said) they have something to burrow in.