Before I broke down and bought the LEE melter ( $24 from MIDWAY) I used the burner from my turkey fryer and a cast iron melting pot I picked up at the flea market. The lead ladle I bought on EBAY for about $5. Don't even look at the LEE ladle, almost worthless except for skimming the junk off the top of the melted lead. Get an Ideal, orRedding, etc.

The little electric melter I use now is alot less fuss and trouble to deal with.
I keep my lead separated in 3 batches, according to hardness. Pure lead for thefrontstuffer and harder stuff for the cartridge shooters.
The biggest expense I faced when first starting was the moulds. Once you get that behind you, not so expensive.

I glean alot of info from this place and another I often go to-
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/
Anything you want to know, someone else has probably already asked.
Read the "classics and stickies" at the top first. All kinds of good stuff.

Oh, did I mention that it's fun as all get out?
Be prepared, once you start casting, you'll see some bullets somewhere and think, "Oh hell, I can do that, and at half the price".
Just like muzzleloaders, it's addictive.
Good luck and have fun!