I’m a newbie and retired, can’t afford a lot of the expensive grow room equipment. Any advice on doing it on a budget, please!
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I would try not to skimp on a light if you can. HLG is having a sale till the 4th. 20 percent off everything.
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Definitely the most important of all setup items
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Oh and welcome to the nut house!! 
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Budget what can you afford?.. how many plants? How are you wanting to grow?
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Lights should definately be a priority or you’ll not get the results we all desire. I lived and learned this lesson lol, had a single Mars Hydro TS600 at the beginning. I tried two plants in a 2x2 tent. Ya I was totally confused as to why I had leggy plants and loose buds. I can personally say HLG lights are nice, the only complaint is the driver is on top of the lights, so it heats up the tent about 5 degrees or so. I got a ChilLED Tech X3, awesome light for the 4x2 I run it in, driver is located on top of the tent as they designed it this way. I got the DIY kit, super easy to put together. Great light for all stages of growth. If you really need a budget light, Spider Farmer SF2000 is on sale for $199, good for flowering 4x2 or veg area of 3x5. I’d be weary of Amazon B.S. lights, they claim higher power than they actually produce.
That sale at Horticultural lighting group has the 260xl rspec light kits on sale for $160 right now, or a 320 rspec light kit for $200. The first one I mentioned is probably the minimum you want for a 2x4 tent, the second would be more than needed for a 2x4 tent. Double that for a 4x4 tent. Then a ventilation fan to exhaust the air from your grow area to the outside of your dwelling. A ph tester, another for testing ppm.
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As others have said, light is the most important although many other factors are just as important as its a process to turn seeds into sacks full of buds 
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How big of an area do you have in mind to grow in?
Like a closet, a tent, or out in an open room? -
When you say budget, what is the most you can afford to put into a light?