What do I need to spend on chimney brushes, etc.?

  Although I've used professional chimney sweep services in the past, next fall I'm thinking of buying some chimney brushes and doing it myself. Do you think I'm getting in over my head by trying to clean my own chimney? I figure that by buying my own chimney brushes and cleaning supplies, I can save money in the long run. The initial investment in chimney brushes and chimney cleaning supplies would obviously cost me more than hiring a chimney sweep service one time, but over a couple years, I'm sure it would more than pay for itself. Would you agree?

What advice would you give a homeowner who wants to do their own chimney maintenance? Specifically, what chimney brushes and other chimney cleaning stuff would you recommend that I get? I have a square masonry flue, which is about a foot in each direction

I'm not going to attempt this until the end of the summer, but I'd like to have a rough estimate of what it would cost to clean my own chimney, and what is the bare minimum amount of equipment I would need to do it right, but inexpensively. I'm talking mainly about chimney brushes, handles, gloves, and other basic necessities.