I went through all of this on another thread somewhere I think, but, I am flying a Vanquish (which I really like...allot) using all stock stuff and less expensive zippy 5000mAh 25c batteries, a redundant Rx power system with two 350mAh batteries, dual regulator (Power box 12), an APC 20.5x14 prop an arming switch, and a Himax 210 motor, I came out at 5100. That’s cutting it close for attending the nats in Advanced so I went out and spent more money on lighter packs which brought me down to 4998. Comfortable for Advanced this year but next year when I move to Masters I am too close for comfort again and will be forced into an elaborate set of choices and or expense, for example:

1) Make my equipment less safe by pulling out the arming switch, removing the redundancy system and or replace it with the a slightly lighter system such as using the flight packs for redundancy and or remove an Rx switch altogether and only use a regulator, or purchase expensive HV servos so I will not even need a regulator.
2) Pull out my wires from the elevator servos and let the two share a common pos and neg pair of wires too lose weight and remove my redundancy their in the event one of those pos and neg wires chafe and or the one cable pulls from the receiver leaving me with no Elevator control at all. I guess I could also take the dremel to my really nice airframe and start gutting it in strategic places.
3) Drop my sexy wheel pants.
4) Replace my $15 prop with a $90 one
5) Replace my $4 spinner with a $130 one
6) Replace my really nice CF landing gear that came with the kit with a set of $40 to $80 lighter ones.
7) Replace my $279 Himax motor with a $500 to $800 lighter one
8) Replace my really nice Futaba digital and BLS servos with HV ones so I can remove the regulator altogether.
9) Continue to purchase more expensive flight packs.

Anyway, these are my experiences and choices, currently.