Hi Jellies
alas, i too was in your shoes not too long ago... without a scope, ready to jump to rash decisions just so that i could own my very own scope (i am not saying you are like this but that I was
). I was even willing to take out a credit card debt to get my very first Goto SCT which would have set me back around $3k.
But then I joined an astronomy group and got to handle a few scopes there. I got told about dobsonian mounts and equatorial mounts, about how dobs are so much nicer for newbies. After all this, I got stuck on getting a 10" dob since it was sub $1k and could fit my car (small hatchback). 10" is not too small that I will have to upgrade anytime soon and was still good to enjoy the good things out there. However, then I saw the 12" meade collapsible dob and just wanted that one since I saw many more years of use in that. I wanted to get as much years out of my purchase as possible.
Finally, I sat down one day and evaluated my situation. I wasn't as knowledgeable on telescopes as I wanted to be and didnt want to end up purchasing something that I would not be able to use a few months after and then have to sell it off for cheap. So i decided to get a second hand cheap telescope. I found one on ebay for sub $150.. a 114mm 900mm focal reflecting telescope on equatorial mount. It is not the best scope but it still gives me really good views. Since getting it I have learned alot about whats out there, how to focus on to things and more importantly .. WHAT TO AVOID IN MY NEXT SCOPE. In astronomy, I have learnt the hard way, good things dont come cheap and if you are willing to wait and save, you will get what you want in the end. I myself, chose to take the hard road since I want to learn the skies before jumping onto a goto scope (btw I will end up getting a SCT in the end
)
Everyone is different, but everyone does go through the newbie urge to make a quick purchase. My recommendation would be to get something second hand that fits most of your needs and which is not too expensive then by the time you have mastered that, you will have a better standing of what you want.
my 2c worth