I learned to play on a 'piece of junk' which I bought for 4 pounds 19/6d from a white goods store in 1969. It had steel strings and a kind of tobacco 'burst finish. The neck was like a railway sleeper and the action was so high [and not adjustable] it was impossible to play beyond the 5th fret. I saved up my newspaper round money to buy that guitar and I loved it. There are so many good low price guitars available now people are spoilt for choice.
The advce I would offer is to buy an acoustic guitar to learn on and to try out as many as you can within your price range - wood is a natural material and no two instruments, even by the same manufacturer with the same specs. sound the same.
Listen to the sound and take someone with you to the shop to play it so that you can hear what it sounds like. Stick with it and it will be your friend for ever - and that's it...