I've saved a TON of money doing this, but only if you consider that the 2 most expensive items (Norton hone, Boker razor) were gifts. Otherwise, I've spent the equivalent of 5 months worth of cartridges. I'm 8 months into this, so I'm playing with house money.

I don't consider myself typical, though. I don't have the space to store or use a bunch of hones. I don't have the money for more razors, unless I pick one up for under $10 on ebay and rehab it myself. I don't have the money for fancy creams, so the only cream I buy for myself is real shaving co at $4 a tube. Any other creams I have I found under the christmas tree.

Would I have a bunch of different stuff had I the money? Probably. But I think at worst I'd be breaking even compared to the cartridges and foams.