Due to lack of money and other factors, it took me four years from trial lesson to skills test, and 46 hours total time. The time I between lessons was spent re-flying the lessons in my head, as well as practicing RT while driving my car, and anything else I could do to stay immersed in aviation.
If you can't afford to go full time just yet, don't worry, do what you can when you can and keep on hunting for whatever funding you can find for the next chunk.