Admittedly, the online Den Resources Guide looks good, but I did have to chuckle at the "no printed book because that is a cost to bear to deliver the program and we're trying to remove these barriers", and yet, if your pack requires the full uniform for each Cub:

Lion $74 (tshirt, cap, belt, neckerchief, slide)
Tiger $130+ (field uniform, socks, council patch, pack numbers, world scouting movement patch, cap, neckerchief, slide - extra if you want standalone shorts, new Cub needs belt etc, slightly less for girls as the girls roll-up pants or skort are cheaper than the switchback pants)
Wolf $44 (cap, neckerchief, slide) + field uniform if required
Bear $44 (cap, neckerchief, slide) + field uniform if required
Webelos $54 (cap, neckerchief, slide, adventure colors) + field uniform if required
Arrow of Light $138 (field uniform, belt, shoulder loops, non-Webelos slide - $171 if green shorts also wanted) assuming Webelos hat, neckerchief, colors, and shirt patches can be carried over from blue field uniform)

So, if your cub needs the entire uniform for all 6 years, you're looking at a minimum of nearly $500 in outfitting costs, plus extra for when they grow out of the field uniform shirt and pants along the way...

Plus new handbooks every year.

A scout is thrifty 🤪

Yes. It is really expensive. So our Pack follows less strict uniform rules.

The only required uniform parts to buy are the shirt and belt. Webelos have to buy the colors or cap for the pins. Otherwise the official pants, cap, socks, etc. are optional. We have also made handbooks optional.

The Pack purchased 10 or so of each neckerchief so we can reuse them. When AOLs bridge out, we give their neckerchiefs to the Bears moving up to Webelos. The Bears give their neckerchiefs to the Wolves, etc. The official slide is optional. Tie it in a knot, make a woggle in a den meeting, or find one somewhere else (Day camp? Does grandpa have an old one he whittled at camp in the attic?).

The Pack keeps a uniform donation bin. When your scout outgrows their uniform, consider donating it back to the Pack for another scout to wear. Check goodwill stores and Ebay for used uniforms. 

4 hours ago, DannyG said:

The Pack purchased 10 or so of each neckerchief so we can reuse them. When AOLs bridge out, we give their neckerchiefs to the Bears moving up to Webelos.

For families they “just stop coming” how hard has it been to get these items back? 

41 minutes ago, mrjohns2 said:

For families they “just stop coming” how hard has it been to get these items back? 

They know the deal when they sign up. Usually they are friends with someone in the Pack. We get most of them back.