Don't buy hilts for ridiculous prices. Just head to Pit of Saron and farm one yourself =)

Got 2 over the weekend farming on and off for a couple of days. Plus you make a decent amount of gold from the drops.

One way I make $$ on the side is I have alts parked at every rare hatchling+black tabby cat all around the game. They always sell and you can make some serious cash easily. I had the market cornered on my server at one point when I was diligently checking every hour but now I'm just going to farm hilts and do it on the side.

Sounds like you have a good plan though. Really in the end how much gold do we really need. I've bought everything I can buy and have nothing left to buy at all. Just saving up for the next money hole that will arise in the next expansion.