

You can save quite a bit by getting a refurbished Pixel - looks like the cheapest “Google certified” option (so it comes with a 1-year warranty) is a 6a for $250, which is nearly half off MSRP. I’ve been using my 6a since launch, so it’s been going for 3 years now and I have no desire to upgrade.
You can definitely get cheaper smartphones, but $250 for a 6a feels like a pretty big bang for your buck.
Making money on merch/patreon can only happen once your channel is established though. Until then, YouTube creators are dependent on ad revenue to keep them going, and probably operate at a loss until they reach the point where they can supplement that ad revenue. Trying to get yourself established on a platform that doesn’t offer any ad revenue is a much harder sell.