I also echo to start with store ground meats.
I started using store bought ground pork for a few years and made bulk (not stuffed in a casing) breakfast sausage and Italian sausage. The bulk Italian wasn't popular (prefer it in casings), but various breakfast patties is what I make the most and after adapting a Jimmy Dean clone that my wife really likes is 100% of my bulk.
Depending on your favorite recipe, bulk may be all you want to make as
voyager 663rd
pointed out.
This is almost 0 dollar starting point to delve into sausage making.
My wife wanted low salt so the popular commercial seasonings is a no.
I used this thread as a base and got it to 1/2% salt
Someone was asking for Jimmy Dean clones, I thought I posted this here, but I posted it on meatgistics.waltons.com on 7Oct22. Here is a copy paste so I can link to it. Chasing a recipe and testing is like an adventure and detective story for me, I love the process... so this post is mostly...
www.smokingmeatforums.com
I have 2 hand grinders that came from each side of the family. I hand ground for a bit and decided that making great mince was better than store bought, but what a PITA so I jumped on a deal to get a Weston #8. Not as high quality as the Weston Pro, or a LEM or a Cabelas, but for the quantity of sausage I currently make in a year it sure beats the hand grind.
The meat grinder attachment to the KA stand mixer was ok. Looked at getting a better attachment, but I picked up the Weston for less money
I have an old cast iron stuffer that came from my wife's family. I love it. I got a new set of stuff tubes off
Amazon and make a variety of cased sausage.