Best weekend plans that changed my mind [v5]

For context, I am working with a pretty modest budget so high-end suggestions probably will not land. Spent the last few weekends digging into this and the deeper I go the more questions I have. I want to write something more comprehensive about this later but starting with a quick post to gather thoughts.

Maybe an unpopular opinion but here we go. Quick context: I am relatively new to this and trying to find my footing. Spent the last few weekends digging into this and the deeper I go the more questions I have.

Long-time lurker, first-time poster.