if you don't have a lot of money, get into electrics. there is a company that sells some pretty cheap electric stuff called gws. www.balsapr.com sells everything. i am 13 myself so i know the4 restraints of the budget. I live in california, and they have an aluminum can recycling program that gives you about $1 a pound, 29 cans to a pound. i just go around and collect them from the neighbors. also, if for the holidays you ask only for money, that usually will bring you 'round. while gas planes can be a lot more fun to fly, generally have more power, and the four strokes sound like a harley davidson and fly well in wind, electrics may be the better choice if you don't have a flying field. they will also be cheaper, but to get started from scratch (transmitter, reciever, charger, batteries plane and speed control it will cost you about $300 pretty much absolute minimum. this is an expensive hobby. you may want to try and see if you can get used stuff from somebody. this is not a cheap hobby. my last plane cost me $900