Aw, Stevie, 8 replies from petrol heads, and nobody mentioned gliding?
It is a very economical way to understand the basics; a one day course in October at my club (Shenington) would set you back £125. with at least six launches, professional instructor. Many professional pilots started by gliding, many still enjoy the sport when not being airbus drivers...
Or you can spend a lot of dosh getting a private power license, and then what do you do with it? mortgage the house to cover professional training, only to discover that jobs just now are scarce indeed.