Amen nicky. WELL SAID.
Please get a decent guitar, dont buy a cheapo one and upgrade it. IMO start with a 2nd hand MIM or CIJ will do fine. Drop by peninsula and check out their selection available. For <1000 you can get one real good strat IMO.
PS- im a through and through strat lover, ive had a les paul once, it didnt stay for more than 3 weeks, All i ave are STRATS STRATS and STRATS. So, take my advice seriously. Please get yourself a decent strat to start with.