I just finished casting, sizing and lubing 5,000 .38 bullets, and even though my casting equipment isn't cheap, I've paid for it many times over since I first started casting bullets in 1968 or so. I only wish I had started casting my own bullets in 1963, when I first started reloading......
I don't handcast much anymore, since I've got a Magma Master Caster machine, but I cast a lot of bullets during the year. Last year alone I cast over 40,000 bullets in .38, 9mm, .380, .41, .44, .45 (both Colt and acp) and for my .45-70 and .45-120 rifles. In one year alone I paid for the $1,000 a new casting machine would cost me, plus the molds. When I multiply that over the years I've been casting and shooting, I'm way, way ahead of the game. I've got 9 sizer/lubricators (Star, Lyman, RCBS and Saeco), plus multitudes of sizing dies for all of them, and those have also been paid for many times over in the savings for the bullets that have gone through them, including the bullet feeders for the Star machines.
I don't buy my lead, unless I'm looking for something specific, such as linotype. I scrounge, beg, borrow, trade, etc. Right now I've got about 2,000+ pounds of lead alloy in ingots, and I'm always on the prowl for more. The berms on our pistol range are a great source of casting alloy, and it's the best form of recycling, though there is some work involved.
I don't watch much TV, so the time spent is productive, rather than spent mindlessly watching the one eyed tube in the livingroom. I consider that another big plus.
Hope this helps.
Fred