when I was 14, had a 29 gallon,merry x-mas. started with fancy tail guppies, plastic plants and blue gravel. I thought salt water fish were so cool, I still remeber the day I saw the arrow crab in the little cubicle, man i wanted one.
Well it is some 20 something years later , first salt tank, and don't feel bad, I can't afford everything either, It's not that ya have what you want, It's that you want what you have.
I think your off to a great start. good luck