I used to make home brew from about 1998-2005. It was much cheaper (after set up costs) costing approx. $15 per carton of beer. This was using the best ingredients and it was possible to cut this back to around $9 per carton.
Like anything practice makes perfect. Don't expect the first few brews you set down to be the best beer you have ever tasted, but unless you stuff up completely it is still very drinkable. After time this will improve.
As for Coopers, they make wonderful beer, but IMO their home brew ingredients are not as good as some others. They tend to be the ones found in Kmart or Woolies. Go to a home brew shop and have a look around at what is available.
I only stopped due to moving to a climate that is too hot, which is not conducive to optimum home brew!
