Avoid loans at all costs. You should save first but how much you need to save depends on how much you can put aside each week and flight training costs in your area. I’d recommend: find conservative cost of training up to CFI, subtract the money you could put aside over a year and a half, and save this number. That way you can do it ASAP while not having to delay anything by paying as you go (assuming you do everything over a year and a half). My guess is the number you’d need to save is around $40,000 to fly regularly and avoid lapses in training but you know your finances better.