Is getting hardware even worth it at first?

Friends and I want to start DJing, passionate to learn and all, but are pretty tight on our budget. We've literally been looking at controllers going $75 and under (total, not each...) and it truly seems as if... nothing is worth at that point. And we don't have the budget to splurge on a higher-end purchase since we haven't gotten into it even as a hobby yet.

So, what do you advise? Start on laptops, phones, learn the ins and outs, then get something viable, mid-range priced? Bite the bullet and break the bank? Or get a super basic shitter deck to get into the flow of things and upgrade in... what... like half a year?