I started because what I wanted to shoot wasn’t available. I wanted a ballistic tip in my 30-30 Super14” TC to extend the range a little. Once I got to shooting more it was all about savings and being cheap. I’ve loaded everything but .22 and 12ga for 25+ years and saved quite a bit more than I spent. I did load for 3 years on a loadmaster, but other than that it’s all been done on Lee single stage presses with lee dies, lee pot and lee molds. I have less than a grand in everything and for about 15 years I shot 16k of 9mm, 3-4k of 357, and 2-3k of 38, 5k of 308, and 2-3k of 223. All were tuned to each gun they were fired from for the most accurate load I could get.
I bought powder and primers locally in bulk, sold or traded brass to buy powder or primers, and never bought a piece of brass. I mined berms for lead, got tons from Craigslist, and put the word out I was in need of fired brass or lead and got lots more.
You can save money reloading, just most folks keep buying more stuff to make it easier or quicker. I enjoy it and have plenty of time, and I’m poor, so what works for me obviously doesn’t for most of you.