You have to be at the right place at the right time. Like those of us that got the $42 Shimano Crucial rods at DSG

 

I am so happy I got to clear out 3 DSG's of their Crucials when this was going on!!!!

Whats your cheapest combo? Casting/spinning.       Mine is a Shimano sedona with a berkely Lightning rod $80-

Edit:$100-

I think the cheapest combo in my starting lineup is a Lew's LFS on a Duckett Ghost for jerkbaits and topwaters. Not super cheap, but my most expensive rig isn't all that expensive either. Everything is in that $200-$300 range. I just wish it all matched. I have OCD.

LOL all of my combos are the cheap ones. I guess my most expensive is a Duckett Ghost with a Daiwa Exceller. All of the my other combos range 80-100 for the rod and reel. Just never have bought anything over that price range, but have always have the best of luck with my rod/reel combos.

the one I turned into a lure retriever

Zebco Dock Demon rod and spinning reel combo, $15.99 at local walmart, and some 10lb braided I had laying around... I can't believe no one has posted that yet. It's fun to use and if you break it Zebco sends you a brand new one... I know because it's happened to me. I exclusively fished with this combo for 3+months because it's compact.

Okuma RTX spinning reel (free) and Fenwick HMG 6'9" ml (also free). So, I guess my answer is $0

A Shimano Calcutta 251 and a Fenwick Elite Tech rod.  The reel was a closeout I got for $35 and the rod was about $50, also on sale.

Holy cow that's a good deal!!