I used my GI bill to help from the military and trained in the rattiest cheapest most worthless 152 I could find at 55/hr and found a contract CFI who taught for 30/hr. I then found a school with a duchess (see ratty, worthless, non airworthy as well as incredibly poorly equipped) for 145/hr.

I then instructed and flew part 91 and freelanced every spare minute I could get until I moved on.