If we're talking FAA here, sportys.com do an online private course for $199 which covers everything and gives you the endorsement to take the written test, so you can turn up at school with the written test in your hand and save a fortune. I knew a lot of people at school who were ready for check ride, but hadn't passed the written and end up stringing out their training unnecessarily.
Step 1 should always be trial lesson and medical.