We figure between the gas ($52. for two trips) and $118.00 for two cords, it costs us $170.00 for the year. If we puchased 80 bagged 3.20 cubic feet shavings at $4.25 each = 2 cords we'd pay $340.00. And most people pay more than $4.25 a bag. That is quite a savings. Sure you put in time and labor, but it is worth it. We do buy a few bagged shavings to use in nestboxes as they are a bit softer for the babies. So all in all the savings more than pays for a year's worth of hay and the few bagged shavings we purchase.
We're fortunate to live in Maine where there are local sawmills that are familiar with folks purchasing shavings this way. We generally wait until fall after local fair season is over as they use up quite an amount themselves. Most mills will load your truck with a payloader, so it is only when you get home that you have to do some shoveling. See if they will let you stomp down the shavings in the truckbed to compact it and then top it off with some more. You'll need a good dry storage bin. Our shavings bins have a pop up/out outdoor window high enough so that you can stand in the bed of a pickup truck and shovel directly into the bin.
The fresh smell of new pine shavings is aromatic and clean smelling. A reassurance we are ready for another bunny year.