Yeah, from what I understand of top surgery it's expensive still, but it's $5K to $15K expensive. Like, used car expensive (maybe a year or two old and still pretty primo used but you get it). It could take a long time to fund but depending on your gig you could absolutely save up enough for it. Bottom surgery is the more expensive one depending on what exactly you want done, that's the one that reaches a 15% down payment on a pretty good house.

If you're looking for T, I'm pretty sure there are still DIY ways to get it but T is a controlled substance so it's a little harder. We actually should have a guide somewhere on hexbear for it, I think... Anyway T works way faster than feminizing HRT as well. It's going to be noticeable sooner than E is for anyone who knows you, which can be a plus in that you'll start getting all the cool stuff faster (voice drop, body and facial hair, amenorrhea, muscle growth, androgenized body fat etc) but could be a minus if you still want to stealth - don't get me wrong, the cis are kind of clueless so don't be surprised if all that happens and your family still doesn't notice lol.

Absolutely about the gatekeeping and just general bullshit. Every time I turn around I have to pay another $100 for something stupid or its just another road block for no reason, change my name on this, get an official thing over there, insurance rejection for surgery gotta refile, yadda yadda. It's a lot to handle, for sure. And I have it relatively easy! I'm out socially, my family is supportive, I have a good job and pretty good supplemental insurance, I live in Canada and we cover a lot of this stuff (not everything, I want FFS and I had to pay for my adam's apple reduction). It's all the little stuff that just wants to pile on and on