To the OP- one thing to understand from day one: Cheap is not the way to do this hobby.

That's not to say you can't do it cheap. You just won't do it well and cheap.

I tell new pilots to budget $600 to get started. If you shop smart, that will get you your club membership and AMA dues, a basic trainer and radio setup, and all the field gear. That will last until you get bored with their trainer or mishaps take their toll, whichever is first.

The very first step is to contact your local club and meet with an instructor. He will help you with what to get and give you an idea of how much time training will take. If all that doesn't scare you off, then welcome to the hobby. It's a blast once you get past basic training.