I have had this cat for 9 years, she is sweet but always scared of everything. We have moved together many times and she has always adjusted. She recently is starting to growl and hiss at nothing. I am very concerned that she is ill and cannot afford at the moment to take her to the vet.

Is she losing it? Or possibly in a lot of pain unknown to me. She is not aggressive towards me but does run away from me sometimes.

It could be a sign of pain.

9 years isn't really that old for a cat to be 'losing it' so I would be taking her in for a full check up at your vets.