Don't overlook the FREE FMS computer simulator. Money is something a lot of beginners don't have. It might not be as graphic as a G2 or other comercial sims...but it gets the job done, which is get the directional controls setup in your brain. It's very popular for beginners around here...and even using a game joystick will get the right directional reactions down. Not the same feel as a Tx, but guys that show up to train after several hours on FMS, even using a game joystick, start off at the field way ahead of the game.

http://www.bcrcmac.org/FMS.html