looking to buy my first welder

I know price isn’t always an indicator, but, I would spend what you can for a good machine. I good machine, duty cycle etc makes for learning much easier. Welding isn’t hard, but a POS will make it more difficult and frustrating. If possible, I would stay away from flux core.

Miller, Hobart, Lincoln, there are many other good brands, those are just pretty solid.

I have an old Craftsman 220v I got off CL, works decent.