I too have loaded my own ammunition for decades; started in my early teen years in the late 60's loading .357 rounds with a Lyman 310 Tong Tool, Bullseye powder and a hand made powder dipper adjusted for throw weight on a friend's scale. It was painfully slow but taught me the value of my time, not to mention the importance of grip, sight picture & alignment and the mantra, "one shot at a time". Sixty years later, I love my Dillon presses for pistol, Herrett turret for the rifles and all the associated tools...it's been a fun odyssey.
After decades of slowly increasing prices, I was painfully surprised by the hoarding & shortages of the Obama years. I swore I'd never get caught again and laid in a 4-5 year supply of the essentials: primers, powder, brass, and jacketed bullets. Now at 75, I may have a life-time supply. When combined with a life-time's worth of equipment/experience casting my own bullets, I'm riding out the current political/societal mess. It's not been fun...and for many, it WILL get worse.
Would I advise starting out, even with today's ridiculous prices, HELL YES. Our 2nd Amendment rights are eroding. Shutting off the ammunition supply, via price or fiat, is a real possibility. Load your own or take up archery!
If you're just starting, buy what and when you can. Doing it on a paycheck to paycheck basis spreads out the pain. IMHO, we'll never see the post-Obama rock bottom prices for most handgun components, so make your plans accordingly.
Best of luck, Rod