Sarcasm aside, you're right that solar can be a hefty upfront cost. Going DIY can save you on install costs, but often you're getting the panels at a less favorable rate than a contractor buying in bulk, and you've generally gotta do it all in cash.

Most halfway decent solar vendors will be happy to walk you through options free of charge. You can get quotes, alongside real savings estimates based on your roof orientation. They should be able to provide you with a quote, incentive breakdown, and payback estimates for:

Owned solar, where you pay everything upfront and recoup over time

Leased solar, where you pay only a small portion down, with monthly lease payments

Power purchase agreement, where depending on your location they essentially can act as the middleman with your utility. The savings here are usually near zero, but you get to run solar at home.