I got a 2 year volume license for Windows 7, plus 2 years' MSDN (various Visual Studios, plus old OSs, plus useless junk), for £1,000. This is very definitely not closer to free than my daily rate - since I don't have the Silicon Valley-style salary that I'd like to have either! - but compared to other business costs I have incurred, I think it relatively reasonable.

I paid £160 for a single copy of Windows 7 Ultimate, for example - 1 licence for 1 PC! And my accountant costs me more per year. (etc.)