[Slaneyder the Tiny]

I'm in the middle of leveling cooking myself, and I can honestly say that I have taken it to 70 with spare change and bellybutton lint. I was willing to dole out sexual favors if need be, but it turns out that if you use the regional and nation vendors, cooking is (le gasp!) cheap.

And I completely agree with PotPot's message, if not his delivery. As with anything in FFXI, research is the key. To jump headfirst into a craft without reading up would be like buying a level 75 account and attempting to solo Xolotl.