Oof yeah, that’s expensive. I forgot nearly everything about the game’s save system but if I remember correctly you can still save by sleeping at inns and such? Seems a little impractical to have 8 saves total until you learn to read (which can be 20-30 hours into the game).
Also, are you using closed helmets in combat? I’ve read that headshots are instant deaths and this is the only reliable way to protect yourself from getting instagibbed.