Hey there,
concur with Azzy on his comments. I've been in this for two months now, and as a beginner myself, here's what I would've done differently had I known:
1) Would've gotten Sim sooner. Maybe even instead of RTF Fixed Pitch Hummingbird kit. A decent Sim is about the same price ($ 200 range including controller), and as Azzy said, most of the "beginner" kits don't have electrics, TX, RX that you can use on a "better" machine. Some starter kit TX's won't work with a Sim either.
Downside of Sim instead of Heli is that there really is no substitute for "hands on" experience, and it really isn't as much fun. However, it is an indispensable training tool.
2) Would then have gotten a Collective Pitch machine from the get go. Though CP is more complicated to set up, Fixed Pitch is really not outdoors suited (they don't handle wind well, if at all), and that's the only place I have available to fly.
As for Fuel vs Electric, I'll leave that debate to others. Up and down sides to both and the choice is based on many, mostly personal, factors.
Do bear in mind that the tired, old adage of "bigger is better" applies well to flying machines. Get the biggest one that's practical for you. Bigger is typically more stable in the unstable air.
Let us know what you get, and above all, have fun
Emil