It took me about a week longer than other people to get my team to 80 ( I think I hit 80 in around 3 weeks ). That extra week was me taking the time to keep all my tradeskills maxed. When I dinged 80 my tank put on his titansteel gear, had 545ish def( i was farming SB for ore a few days into LK ), I gemed enchanted everything, put all the gear I could make from leather and cloth for my shamies and did my first heroic the same day 8) I killed the first two bosses there for a few days and I think the 3rd day i cleared it.( UK ) I'm not sure how fast i progressed, but It seemed pretty fast. I ran out of things to buy with heroic badges ( still could get a few PvP items )

I did not spend much money at all, I had all the mats I needed to equip myself for heroics. I hate spending money on gear.