Hell, if you live in/near a city that can support at least one east asian/indian/middle eastern store, you often can get a lot of whole spices for cheap. Couple months ago I bought ~5 pounds of various spices for 45 dollars. Then I get the super basics in big containers from big box places. Indian store - 8oz of green cardamom pods is $3.40, black is 4.00, star anise is 4.00, etc. The most expensive one I regularly get is like 1.25 an oz. but, usually, expensive ones are potent and you only need a little at a time. Then I can get, I think its 20oz, containers of things like garlic powder for 8 dollars at walshart.
Hell, if you live in/near a city that can support at least one east asian/indian/middle eastern store, you often can get a lot of whole spices for cheap. Couple months ago I bought ~5 pounds of various spices for 45 dollars. Then I get the super basics in big containers from big box places. Indian store - 8oz of green cardamom pods is $3.40, black is 4.00, star anise is 4.00, etc. The most expensive one I regularly get is like 1.25 an oz. but, usually, expensive ones are potent and you only need a little at a time. Then I can get, I think its 20oz, containers of things like garlic powder for 8 dollars at walshart.