Hi, I just happened onto this but I do have something to add that might help. I'm picking up my two gliders at the breeder in three days.
I've been preparing for a month, buying cage, tunnels, swings and platforms, toys, wodent wheel, pouches, food articles. I got lucky and found an appropriate cage for $199, the total I have spent so far is $650. Then as with any new pet the twins have an appt at the vet on Monday morning, that's another $250. Whenever I get a new pet I open a savings account with a minimum of $500 for any emergency vet visits. So I've spent a total of $1150, if you include the price of the gliders it comes to $1500. So your mother saying you'll need $1000 isn't unreasonable. If you deduct the money I put away for emergency vet care it comes to just that.