Money burns like dried grass

I know that allotments are supposed to be a cost efficient means of putting food on the table but, setting up an allotment, well... My costs have not been great, exactly, but when you have no money like me, things add up.
There's this theory of course, that a lot of stuff that you can use on the allotment can be begged or borrowed. I read some guy's allotment plot where he said you need £500 to set up an allotment properly. God. I wouldn't be able to do that, would most people? I was lucky that the previous tenant left a lot of stuff when they went (I think I even found a hosepipe yesterday underneath some couchgrass covered hessian. Of course, to check, I will have to lift the couchgrass. which is not something I was going to do after the bramble pulling afternoon of hell), but I simply do not have access to a gardening, outdoor loving community with stuff to give away. And I'm too shy to approach anyone on the site, yet. There's skips, of course, and stuff people leave on the street. But I never yet found a wheelbarrow, or fence posts, or compost or a second hand shed so far.
So, what have I spent money on?

• The cheapest storage box I could find (so terribly manufactured is this box, I have to use rocks to keep the lid on, but other than that, its surprisingly fine. Took me all of 5 minutes to put it together by myself, survived Storm Katie and has kept everything dry - so far. Can't see it keeping thieves out, but I don't feel security is currently that big an issue. Ugly as sin. £25.
• Secateurs £11. Not an expensive pair, but not a £4 at Asda pair either. I couldn't not. The brambles, they had to go.
• Wooden stakes for building raised beds. £22. for 20 from ebay. I feel crappy about that, but I feel even more crappy about the idea of building beds without them
• The cheapest wheelbarrow. £25.
• Spade and fork 
• Hand cultivator £4
• Plant tags (no, could use cut up margarine tub for free)
• Anti-weed membrane
• Indoor propagator and seed thingies. (No. Last time I will buy them - keep seeing plastic packaging from my groceries that will do just as well)
• Compost. Probably necessary. I read in a smug book that you should only use your own compost. But where does compost start before you start composting? 
• Some seeds, but got many, many packets free from a gift sub to a gardening magazine a friend bought me as a present
• Seed Maincrop potatoes
• A bucket £1

That's not terrible, of course. When I think of what I've spent in the past in garden centres, it's not a big deal, really. But I also need a waterbutt of some description. I'd love a shed.
Even looking at that incomplete price list my heart sinks a bit. I'd sort of been in denial about this. Basically, I might buy some manure but that has to be that,  Good job having an allotment has more benefit than cheap herbs and veg, or I'd be sending it all back.
Down to the allotment tomorrow. More sawing, weed killing and a nice cathartic fire. I hope that hosepipe pans out.