Her's a list of some of the things I do:
1. Group buys for grains, e.g. 55# 2-ROW for $35. Crush your own grains, you can better control the efficiency.
2. Group buys for HOPS, e.g. $7 or $8 per pound. Use less expensive hops (again by the pound), bought some varieties for $7/#. There are plenty of great recipes that don't require a bunch of Amarillo or Simone.
3. Wash yeast (use Pressure caner).
4. Can Mash to use as starters, cheaper than DME or LME. (Again, use pressure caner).
5. Use electric stove to heat mash water. Cheaper than propane.
6. Keep Star san mixture in a spray bottle. Lasts longer and for most things, all you need to do is spray the surface and wait a minute.
7. Grow hops, after the first year they do pretty well.
8. Crush your own grains.
9. Do a partyglye, i.e. use grains from 1st batch towards 2nd batch. Alternatively, use grains was basis for creating wort (see #4)
10. Keg when you can. Saves on cleaning and sanitizing bottles, don't need caps or labels. If you bottle, bottle from the keg. Still don't need no stinkin labels.
11. Get free bottles from friends.
12. Get free or cheap buckets from bakeries, organic food-co-ops. (I have a bunch of food grade buckets from my local co-op, cost .76 each with lid)
13. Use water from local spring. Makes great ales (not so great lagers). OK, this doesn't really save money as I have to drive there. But, I can keep a LOT of water with all those free buckets and my truck, so cost per gallon isn't so high.
14. Brew at national home brew day. Used to be free, but many places provide ingredients for $10 or $15....and it's a fun time.