I bought the BF-F8HP the day after I got my call sign. I bought an extended battery for it, that turned out to be a two-pack, and I bought a Nagoya 771 antenna. I've got about $120 into the HT at present. I have no expectation of buying another while this one works, unless I decide to pursue setting up a "poor man's repeater" (then I'll get a pair of UV-5R and a little repeater controller).
At present, my main spending is going on my main HF rig, and my budget is tight enough that I had to put off buying a $35 power cable until at least the middle of this month (might wind up in June, the budget isn't cooperating right now). I also still need to get an antenna up for that (got a wire, not support, and the wire is really intended to hang from a kite line for portable QRP).
Once the Heathkit is either on the air or under repair (can't troubleshoot until I have it powered, and ideally have an antenna to check receive and transmit) I can look at spending money on 2m or 440 to get to my club's net. The simple way would be to drive up Sauratown Mountain and check in from the top -- the repeater in Fancy Gap should be easy from up there, and I might be able to key the primary (in Thomasville, and not very high) from that elevation. Problem is driving back, on a mountain/country road, in the dark, after my regular bedtime.
Build a Yagi, get an amp or "better" radio, none of those things are free, and I'm short enough on free time to have to watch that budget, too.
All of this stuff would be easier if I could afford to quit my job, but I'm still several years too young to collect Social Security, never mind enough benefits to (halfway) live on.