Inexpensive Product Suggestions, Please!

I'm a college student on a budget. I just started taking care of my own hair -- since I was little, I've been doing the salon route.  I've been pressing my hair for about 8 years after a damaging perm route.  However, I've been having issues with stylists. My one up here where I go to college does an okay job but nothing special. She charges $50/visit, which makes it hard for a student to take care of their hair, especially when paying rent/utilities/books/food, etc. My stylist back at home has become very scissors happy since I've been off at college...every time I come home, she cuts my hair. She doesn't trim, she "cuts it into a style" despite me saying I don't want to do that. I think it's because she's known me for so long, she just assumes she knows what I want and what's best for my hair. So earlier this month, when I came back to college, I decided to end relationships with both stylists.

The problem is, since I've been getting my hair done since I can remember, I don't know WHERE to start. To make matters worse, I'm on a huge budget, I don't know if I can afford to buy really expensive stuff every month. Can anyone suggest some inexpensive products that get the job done? I read on another site about some Suave products doing a good job and VO5 being fairly decent. Any cheap products i should AVOID?  Right now, I'm using Wild Growth Oil (great moisturizer), carrot oil, and some herbal oils when my scalp feels dry.  Thanks for your suggestions!!

I haven't tried the neutrogrena line. Right now, I'm doing some VO5...I bought some milk moisture (strawberries & cream) as well as free me fresia. I also bought the suave humectant, which I  LOVE. But now I'm trying to find some good shea butter.  After reading this forum, I realized that is a must-have product. I ordered 2oz of unrefined shea butter off ebay for about $10...I wanted to buy 6 ounces, but they were selling it for $45/$50, which seems a little pricey. Is shea butter always that expensive? I've also tried looking around for some natural oils at a low price as well.

I'm sure I'll get the hang of it and figure out what I need and what I don't need soon enough...I just don't want to break the bank while doing so!