Anyone wanting to learn to fly whether in a general aviation or RAA flying school will save money by initially training on a synthetic trainer. Five or more hours on a synthetic trainer, FTD (Flight Training Device or whatever) will make you familiar with the terminology, the basic flying controls, the radio procedures, and no turbulence, no ATC delays.
Same for those intending to train for their Command Instrument Rating, single or multi-engine. Stay on the simulator until you could pass the instrument rating test on the simulator. Then and only then, start training for the CIR in the real aircraft. Start in a single engine type until you would be competent to pass the CIR in that, and then switch to a multi-type to finish off the asymmetric stuff. Careful planning as above will save you heaps. But as always, the secret is to have the right instructor who knows his job and won't rip you off. Word of mouth is the key - not the size of the flying school or the shiny uniforms of the staff.