I can’t make profits yet and I hate paying my broker a sizable sum. Is there any way I can cut these costs?
It is impossible to avoid broker fees because it's their business. However you may choose particular type of trading account like zero spread which is better for scalping.
Nobody works for free. If your broker makes no money from you, he will kick you out. Do you work for free? The problem is that you are not able to make money, so that is the problem, not your brokers commissions. If you don't pay commission, you will pay it in the spread.
Yes, there is a way to avoid them. Start paper trading. You will lose nothing but also make nothing. It will be a game like monopoly. As soon as you can consistently win in that game, you can start real trading as you can afford then to pay commissions.