I went all part 61 (except for my private multi at ATP) and probably spent around 15-20k. About 5k on private, another 5 on instrument/comm single, another 8 on multi and the rest just flying around for fun. I joined a club right after getting my private which saved me about 4-5k and got free multi time by ferrying aircraft occasionally after I was hired as a CFII at the school I trained at. I paid as I went and never kept count of how much the bills were so the numbers may be off a little.

After two years of instructing I am ahead on the spend/earn curve!