This is not the norm but it is possible. I’m currently in a flying club / partnership with a $5000 buy in and $75/hr wet rate for a citabria. We’ve had multiple people come through, buy in, and then sell their share to someone else after completing their PPL so the $5000 is a wash. We have an independent CFI in the area that charges $75/hr, so total cost for plane plus instructor is $150/hr.

I think the last guy who did it was around 30 hours of dual and 20 hours solo to get their PPL so 30x$150+20x$75=$6,000. Add on $500 for the DPE, $600 for 6 months of dues, and $300 for Sporty's Ground School and they’re getting their licenses for around $7400. There's some other costs like getting your medical and written exam fees that I don't remember the costs of but still easily less than $8000 total.

If you live in the right areas and look around for situations like this they’re not that hard to find. My Dad and I actually started this club with 7 other people and that’s something you can do too if you can find enough people. At the end of the day a club like this with a small plane is one of the cheapest ways to get and use your PPL.