In most of these merc guides, the equipment they tell us to get is damn expensive, anyone got a merc build for me that is at least moderately cheap?

what kind of merc do u want?

Rockstopper with a perfect emerald in it shaftstop and for weapon it depends on what you are if your a caster buy a low non eth insight if your non ladder though the insight might be a little expensive if you can afford it though get it, if not get a non eth bonehew. for melee well.. bonehew works nice but there are better weapons for melee with mercs out there but there a little expensive. get a act 2 holy freeze merc on nightmare (defensive)

im actually lookin at a barbarian merc just to try sumtin new

use a act5 then if you want to try something new.. use Ebot Shaftop and Vamp gaze he should live n own :)

i find tals helm to be great for mercs 10/10 leech
+life and mana and res

Either go for mass defense or mass DR%.

Two builds that I have found to work out great:
Shaftstop + Gaze
eStone + eGiant Skull 2sox

Nice weapons for a2 merc:
Obedience (once Enchant is cast he deals out a lot of damage)
any aura RW if you are a melee char
Insight for casters
Infinity for elementalists
Reaper's Toll (for Wind Druid)

If you want to use a5 merc, use eth Flamebellow.