Guess it will mean different things to different people depending on your disposable income .
To some a budget build is £8-10,000 ( well compared to many cars out there that IS a cheap build ) , others are lucky to get £1000 to spend in a year on their hobby. I guess it depends how much you want a car and how much you like being married for many , having kids takes away a huge chunk of income for a long time.
I remember picking up a 100E for £50 ( taxed and MOT'd ! ) and over 3 months I did a load of body mods, resprayed it and fitted a 1300GT , ended up owning me £350 ...it was 24 years back though !
That's one of the reasons we formed UKK to show that it was possible to to have creative fun on a budget. Sure we got some stick cos they weren't 'proper' kustoms but many have learnt the skills and have gone on to build some outstanding stuff.
Just like the Lowflyers who had heaps of fun often using other peoples cast offs to create usable fun motors.
As you get older you get a little bit more disposable and can often build that long sought after dream car to a standard that you've always aspired to.
I've got a fair amount invested in my long term 27T but it works out at peanuts per week over the build period ( it was never intended to take THIS long though ! ).
I'm also trying to get back to my roots by building a real cheap motor from what I have lying around, what I can scrounge or modify to fit just to see how cheap you can build if you are not limited by this years 'must haves' or a wishlist to incorporate into the build.
Just think what you can buy in the way of a new car for the sort of cash we spend on a toy ,not that the question normally enters our heads as we wouldn't even consider it. Just that when we look at a 'cheap' rod for £5000 that would actually buy you a base model new car from many manufacturers . Guess it makes you realise one of the stumbling blocks for youngsters trying to get into the hobby ?
Waaaaaay back when I first started I really wanted a Jago 5 window but it was totally out of my reach and, even though costs have fallen in real terms since then ,would still be a push for me nowadays.
Regardless of the budget just getting a car finished and on the road is a major achievement and anyone who's managed it deserves a pat on the back.