Yes, it can get expensive especially if you follow all the advice about acid free. It will make your pictures last a hundred years. I don't think I need that but follow some of it. I don't plan to be around a hundred years from now.
A lot of us just get the albums, use the acid free stickers or photo corners and put the pictures in the albums. Sometimes I use my scraps from stamping to mount the pictures on. I pick up
pretty papers whenever I see them to use in my albums. I think the most important part is the journaling. Next to the pictures that is what everyone wants to know. Who is it and what were they doing?
Just think in twenty years your grandbaby will appreciate all the pictures, poems and stories you write about her.
I've seen people use the small albums you can
buy at the dollar stores and do fun things with those too.
Do hope this helps a little bit.
Maggie