If I were wanting to save I would start from the top rather than the bottom. I am 71 yrs.old and semiretired fly fishing for over 40 yrs.I need to save all I can also. So I tend to look for deals on Rods,Reels but not on tippet. I learned a lesson about tippet a few years ago, when flour first hit market I refused to pay the price . Was fishing with couple of friends one was out fished 4 to 1 because of refusing to pay the price for flour tippet. The only difference was tippet. It proves this old dog can learn a thing or two.