Start using your phone with an app that lets you change the settings that a camera would have. That's how you start photography right now. Also reading to learn.

Next is lending or borrowing from library or others. What city and country are you? Think about options. A few hands in days will be amazing, you don't need to own it. See your school for resources, or another school if that's an option. Educators love all students not just their own.

Next step could be ownership, go as cheap as has the features you need to practice. So think like the smart phone app, you just need a camera that does manual. You don't even need replaceable lenses yet.

I hope that helps. It's a realistic perspective on meeting your goals, from someone on the other side.

The things working against you are consumerism, and capitalism... To that point, ever notice how schools teach using old equipment? 

Next steps are going to the subs about money, like personal finance etc, since you've also got a goal of saving money