You do not ever have to pay a big price for chips and can still build a fine collection. It can give you much satisfaction over the years. Flea markets, garage sales, yard sales, antique stores, and friends are a great source of older chips, sometimes for a $1 or $2. Get some traders from your local casinos and trade. The $15,000 chip mentioned above was found in a flea market for $5.
If you think of your chips as $ it will take all the fun out of the hobby. If you think of your chips as a hobby you could very well make finds that will make you money.

They are only little pieces of clay and you can't get em all.