most of us all started in the same boat. either save up some more money before using your full suit of armor and top tier weapons, use lighter armor, use crappier weapons and loot from the battlefield, or play the marketplace.
I always was a big believer in selling my heirloom point, and buying a +1 for cheaper. As a 13th gen veteran (level 33 again) lancer cavalry, I've always had issues paying for my upkeep, but I always stayed on top of it by selling looms, or going on foot. I honestly don't think I've had to go footman since my first or 2nd generation.
I also have an alt that makes money (that I'm using to keep retiring for looms) that I could transfer to my main if I ever needed to. I have potentially 3,700 gold upkeep I could pay in a round, and I was averaging about 40,000 gold that it cost me to retire a char (but that included the first 10 or so levels I was on foot).
What's your total potential upkeep for a round?