Some advice from an old-timer FAA instructor. Don't go to the big academies. Don't get me wrong, some are great but they are overly expensive. If you want to save money, look for an experienced instructor who is in the job for the pleasure of teaching. Find a cheap aircraft for hire from a local FBO. Also, do as much training on the ground and in sim as possible. The sims are really good these days and can teach you almost as much as a real flight lesson for much less cost. Don't buy books too many books and other training manuals as most are available for free on the ffa.gov website. If the instructor knows his stuff and gives you a full pre and post flight briefing, this will make all the difference. Good luck in your training!