I started reloading about 1976-ish, with a Lee loader in 410, when Dad realized how expensive .410 shells were compared to 12 and 20 ga at less than $2.00 a box.
My best friend and I started loading for his .22-250 around 1982. He traded with another friend of his for a bunch of RCBS stuff that included: a Rockchucker, 502 scale, an RCBS powder funnel and dies for .22-250, 6mm Rem, .25-06, and something else, .308 I think. Also one shellholder and a Sierra manual. All for the princly sum of a set of two Pioneer 6x9" speakers.
We reloaded a lot of rounds setting at the kitchen table, using a teaspoon and a bowl to weigh every charge. To this day I despise powder tricklers.
I think the reason people today think it is expensive to start reloading is there are so many people that say you need every little gadget to make safe loads.
While I agree that a trimmer is nice, you can also discard brass after it grows, or put it in the waiting for a trimmer box. Even though I have both a Forster and a Lyman now, the Lee trimmers are about the easiest to use, especially if you only have a box of cases to trim.
A six inch dial caliper is cheap enough now to replace all or the flat shell length guages ever built.
A 0-1" micrometer is nice, but is it really necessary if you aren't pushing top end loads?
A tumbler makes shiny brass, but as long as there isn't any dirt or grit on the case, it is not absolutely necessary for starting out.
Robert