I've had a quiet chuckle at people grizzling about "expense" - I got to 3 colonies and hives, and all the equipment I needed for a total outlay of under £150 - I made my own (top bar) hives from the free plans available on the net, and populated them from local swarms. My woodworking skills are pretty non-existent, so if I can manage to make hives, so can most people (just follow the step by step plans, it's a doddle!).
Being one of those much-maligned (more) natural beekeepers, ongoing expenses are also minimal, (no sugar, no chemicals, no foundation), about the only thing I buy in is some linseed oil to paint the hives with (with some beeswax melted into it, applied hot)