Creature Comforts & Guilty Pleasures.

Depends on the brand of guitar. There are cheaper options for around $200. Peavy or Gibson might suit your needs as a beginner. Hell, my bro fished his first guitar out of a dumpster, hah. Only needed to replace the strings and a couple tuning pegs. Eric Clapton recounted his first guitar being purchased second hand from a street performer. You got options is what I'm saying. For me, it's been finding time. Sadly I work too many hours in the day.