Buying a ferret and supplying it with the basics is the CHEAP part.
 
What adds up are the medical costs.  This year was really abberent for us:
$11,500 so far (most for medical costs for 7 ferrets).  Usually, we assume
that we'll have maybe $5,000 in annual medical costs for them (in clumps
since operations, ultrasounds, some meds, etc. arrive that way).  This
year we got to not have vacation and not replace old floors to afford
their needs.  Much of life is a matter of setting priorities, though, so
that's not a biggie.
 
This topic of affording costs came up recently on the FHL.  The comments
of solutions of high costs range from budgeting and saving, to providing
chores in exchange for part of the costs, to using credit for now but
payng it off fast, to having health insurance, and more.  The simple facts
of the matter are:
 
1. that is HARD to deal with having a number of ferrets, and especially
hard when too many are inthe same age range (and the emotional aspects of
losing more than one at once are harder still),
 
2. that anyone getting a ferret needs to save monies first to deal with
everyday costs and medical costs (in addition to carefully learning
beforehand --see websites I mention and read books as well as reading the
FML),
 
3. that those who can't afford medical costs normally should check into
the option of fostering since shelters then often cover the medical costs.
 
The folks asking monetary and basic questions on several lists recently
seem to be names I don't recognize, so perhaps they just have not had a
chance to see the the many resources and useful ideas that others have
successfully used in the past which are well discussed in the archives
and elsewhere.  Then again, maybe I am senile... ;-)
 
If you look in my other post you will see a number of useful resources to
help.  There sure must be a ton of new people, given how often it's been
needed recently.  If anyone has useful additions, let me know, please,
with a private note as well as a post here.
 
The single most comprehensive ferret book for non-vets out there is
probably _Ferrets for Dummies_.
 
Oh, I forgot to mention: since most ferret shelters and rescues are not
affilliated with large animal-welfare groups, and since we also are the
ones who largely finance advances in ferret medical care, those are
regular ways in which ferret people give-- again and again -- to help as
many as possible.  Some costs are still outstanding from the major rescue
in Utah recently of ferrets that an animal hoarder had, from what I have
read.
[Posted in FML issue 3642]