I restarted brewing just over a year ago after a 20 odd year gap. You can do things very cheaply and produce very drinkable beer. I made my first kit (second time around) without spending much at all. FV free large plastic bucket free, plastic bottles free (just what we'd normally recycle), Wherry £14.40, sugar 10p, sterilising solution 59p (didn't even nearly use it all), water negligible, poly tube free (found it lying about at work). That was about the lot, for around £15.50ish I got 38 500ml bottles of quite drinkable beer about 40p a bottle.
The more I tweak the brews and my methods increases my expenditure. 500ml brown glass bottles free as my old fella emptied them and the local bottle bank was full of them if you're cheeky enough to take them out. FV's £7, air locks £2, crown caps £1, bench capper £30, little bottler £10, aquarium heaters £8, spray malts £3.30, hops £2, glycerol 5p, yeasts £1.75, hydrometer £3. Thats about all I can think of so no massive investment. In fact the most expensive just make life easier and don't improve your beers in any way.
Even given that I can't be spending 60p per bottle of what usually turns out to be a bostin pint, much better than any low end comercial brew and comparable to any premium ales. I'd definitely not describe myself as being hard up and needing to brew to be able to afford a drink. I'm interested in beers, I'm interested in brewing and I enjoy trying to improve my beers to my own taste. Its a great hobby for a beer enthusiast.