Do it! Give it a try!!
I've had 6 welders over the past 5 years, and I settled on a AC/DC stick welder, 110v wire feed, and a oxy/acetylene rig. I've only ever welded a few things with O/A just to say I've done it. I'm a novice, and I've been a novice for 20 years.
Here's what I've learned...
Stick will be the cheapest to get into, and it's not that hard to learn. If you use 6013 or 7014 rod you can make strong, attractive welds with only a little practice. You can probably find an AC stick welder on Craig's list or your local want ads for $100 or less. Now that I have the wire feed welder I use it because it's easy. However, when my weld strength and quality are important, I still use the stick welder as my go-to. If I could only have one it would be a stick welder.
An auto darkening helmet is worth every penny you pay for it. A lot of us have paid $50 or so for a Harbor Freight AD helmet and it's received very good reviews.
An angle grinder is a must. My dad always said the difference between a good welder and a bad welder is who knows how to use an angle grinder. I've since learned that a good welder uses an angle grinder before he strikes and arc so that he doesn't have to use it after. Good fit and clean metal are keys to a good weld.
The actual burning of metal and sticking things together is the easy part. Chosing the right rod/wire and setting up your welder correctly are what determines your success. Keep a few charts handy that help you match rod thickness with your metal thickness and suggest initial amperage settings. Here are a few to get you started...
Electrode Amperage Chart - Baker's Gas & Welding Supplies
A BASIC GUIDE OF ARC WELDING ELECTRODES: ELECTRODE SIZE AND AMPS USED
Welding is like so many other activities... It goes a lot better if you warm up first. Start each project with some practice welding on scrap pieces to test your settings and refresh your technique. Practice on pieces that are like what you will be welding for that project.