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Sully, Most of us don't have the budget you might think we have. But what ever amount you spend per year will add up over time. Heck even if you only spend $100 per year, over twenty years that's $2000; if you spend $500 year, over twenty years that's $10,000. It can be a very expensive hobby, but it also can be way cheaper than many folks think if your willing to submit time and a learning curve in lieu of cash. Wood: there is so much wood out there floating around for free, you should be able to do decent benchwork on the cheap. Track: learn hand laying and remember you get better as you go along and faster. Ballast: I know many that use sand. Glues: buy in bulk - especially white glue. In several analysis of layouts economically speaking that I have seen in print, they all agree on one thing. It is your rolling stock that can drive up the cost of a layout. This is an expense you can control. Its better to have six quality engines bought over a five year period, than twenty engines that are marginal at best. Buy "used" items: This includes engines, power packs, track and turnouts, structures, rolling stock, paint, modelling tools, magazines, whatever. All these mentioned items here, I have bought "used." At estate sales, most everyone goes for the engines and rolling stock. When you go to the estate sale, and the crowd is around the "glamour" items, hit up the estate items for tools you want. Even paint brushes well maintained but used, can be had for a steal in an estate sale. I've bought used bottles of paint, an electric paint shaker, Xuron cutting tool (for track), tweezers, small screw drivers, and a host of other things at estate sales, saving almost %90 on many items. When I'm low on cash, I'll curtail my magazine spending, instead buying them two years old or older at LHS's and train shows.
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