i too am a cheapy but i really have to say that these book will last 2 years, so the basic book ends up being around $11 a year. You can get a great start with out the extra inserts.
Very rarely do i need to purchase materials to complete the badge work, most of the stuff is household items, if not I ask on freecycle and usually get what i need, craft stuff etc.
the badges are less than $2.00 each, although i believe you might be able to find them on amazon cheaper. Or again ask your service unit if any one has extras I usually buy the next 3 badges ahead and we had a girl drop out so I had a few badges left over. I think i could ahve returned them but just never got to it.
The journey books to me are useless unless you have the adult guide, if you have the adult guide you might not need the journey book. but again, if you are doing them right , you aren't going to need all 3 journeys at once.
Mostly, 'I"M confused on what is really happening here, Your DD is not in a troop??? you are a registered Gs leader or you are just a mom starting your kid off in scouts??? or she needs to catch up with her troop???
If she has a troop then you need to talk to the leader, one troop sharing a book would work really well and save everyone money, but remeber that money does sort of trickle down to the girls and by cheating the system you might be doing more harm than good.
if you compared GScouting to gymanstics or dance or softball. it is a very very cheap activity. I know i spent hundreds on dance lessons, costumes, tights, hair do etcs the one year my dd took dance. so put in perspective GS is cheap.