Welcome aboard. With that $250 budget, you're looking for used equipment. There are ways to do that, one would be to check with that local club. They probably have somebody retiring a plane, maybe someone leaving the hobby, willing to part with plane, radio, engine & fieldbox ready to go for that kind of money. One of the guys who just quit in my club sold his trainer, with engine & radio & fieldbox, still with a half gallon of fuel, for $300. The new guy's delighted.

There's another reason to get to know the club guys. They will set you up in a training program, so your new plane doesn't get turned into a kit again. It's best if that first plane lasts a year or so, and the odds of that happening are GREATLY enhanced when a good training program is used.

First things first, though. Get to know the club and members, see how they do things and who's willing to train a new pilot. Talk about their preferences, and see if you can find a good deal on some hardware.

Good luck!
Dave Olson