Tobster if you have to talk about money and flying in the same breath then it probably isn't for you yet until you've got yourself a little more secure financially. Whatever you think it's going to cost and the time it's going to take, well take your worst estimate and double it. You won't go far wrong with that.
I renewed my IMC rating today (OK IR(R) for the pedants) and with a good thrashing from an instructor yesterday and the actual renewal today I spent £374, not counting incidentals such as fuel to get to the airfield etc. That's just to renew a rating. Talking to the examiner who did my renewal today he said it's cost him about £1500 just to renew his examiners rating.
It's an expensive pastime, you've got to have flying in your veins and in the back of your mind at all times to keep it up. The first thing I do when I get up is check the local TAFs on my phone, even if I'm not flying. Then I drive to work looking at the weather. It's got to grab you that badly.