Yes, Beardies absolutely need a high-quality source of UVB.

I think the easiest way to gut-load crix is with the special gelled stuff you can buy at the petstore. It provides both nutrients and water and doesn't require any advanced prep.

How much does everything cost??? That all depends on you, really. You gonna go for glass or plastic? How dogged are you in searching out the best deals on supplies? You can go to PetCo and buy everything you need, including the beardie, and spend $400...or you can shop around, figure out which things can be purchased at places like Home Depot...watch for sales...make some things yourself....find a good local breeder....etc. I spent about $200-$250 for my whole set-up, including all supplies, supplements, and beardie. Since then, I spend about $15 a month on crix and the occassional expensive light bulb.