Flying on a simulator helps with the fundamentals but you can crash on a sim all day long and simply hit the reset button. Cost factor is zero. Crash one time with the real thing and your investment is probably gone.

You need to visit a local flying club and ask lots of questions. You need to start out on a trainer. Same principle as learning to walk before learning to run. If you do find a rtf model in the $150 area, it won't be a good flying model as rtf in that price range have very cheap components such as servos. Unfortunately, rc is not a cheap hobby.