I think the best way to go would be to start out with a decent simulator, and order a decent CP heli.
Blade CP Pro for smaller budgets, or T-Rex 450 for larger budgets.

Oh, I guess I should ask where you plan on flying your heli. If it is the living room, the t-Rex is right out. I do fly my 450 in the basement, but only for hover tests, and only because She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed does not come down there. I fly the 450 in my back yard all the time, over at the little-league park across the street (when no kids are playing) and at the club field. I also fly it at our [link=http://www.hermanbrothershobbies.com/indoor/]indoor fly-ins[/link].