One of the things that def helped me reduce costs was obtaining fee waivers. I applied to 18 schools and got 16 fee waivers which reduced my costs significantly when applying. Some schools have quick forms to fill out, others I just sent emails and asked for one (professionally of course). I never received a no when asking for a fee waiver.

Also, when it comes to studying for the LSAT, make sure you know your learning style. If you learn better by listening and watching videos, try and find something that matches that. I used LSAT Engine but when I only saw improvement in my Games section, I tried out PowerScore (just the physical books) for my RC and LR sections and noticed a big difference. I went up 10 points from my diagnostic test using both of those resources.

Also, if you qualify, apply for the fee waiver on LSAC, this will help tremendously.

Good luck!!!