There is no way around the cost of making CDs. Either you buy them from the company and retail them at gigs, or you make them yourself. That requires a considerable cost in equipment and time.

I realize that everything in the UK is more expensive than it is here, and 10 pounds sounds high to me, you have your own set of problems to deal with.
At gigs, I feel that I have to get a certain price to make it worth my time and investment. If I have to mail them to people who order that way, I have to charge over the price of the CD. Just recently, I mailed one to Iceland, and it cost me $3.00 just for the postage; never mind the insurance and package.
When I toured Scotland back in 1990, the folk clubs only charged 1 pound admission, so I was counting on being able to sell recordings. They never arrived over there, so I didn't even break even. It paid for the plane fare. I had to eat the cost of hiring a car,and meals. But, at least there were free lodgings at most of the venues.

Seeing people being paid for having fun, and selling stuff to boot looks like a license to print money to some who have never tried it, but those who have know better.