I haven't read this entire thread yet so this may have been mentioned already, but here's a couple of ways I save additional money (besides the obvious "reuse yeast", "buy in bulk", etc):
- I add an extra gallon of water to my sparge volume, so that I can collect it, freeze it, and reuse it as starter wort. I let that last gallon sit in the MLT for about 30-40 minutes once I'm done lautering, and it surprisingly almost always comes out at 1.037, which is perfect for starters. This saves DME, which probably equates to ~$100/year.
- I repurpose my spent grain. I reserve about 6 cups of it to use for making breads/pizza dough for the next week or two, and I trade the rest of the grain to a friend who uses it as chicken feed, in exchange for a dozen yard eggs. These combined save me several bucks a week at the grocery (not having to buy bread or eggs), which equates to anywhere from $200-$400 per year.