A friend of mine bought a Hobart Handler 140 on Craigslist for $200. It was only a year old and in great condition! My welder is a Hobart Handler 187 that I bought new. You would probably be better off getting a smaller welder that plugs into a normal outlet. More powerful ones use a 220v outlet. When welding, I just unplug the dryer at my house and plug in the welder..hah
I've just started welding recently, and most of my short experience is with fluxcore. It is really easy to learn.
Check classifieds/craigslist in your area.
Also, join
www.weldingweb.com. That website has helped me learn a ton of information and all of the people there will be glad to give you tips/advice.
