somehow or rather you've gotta convince your parents that cheap guitars arnt going to good investments.
just think about it, they usually have uneven frets, the neck warps ever so often, the electronics get wonky after a few months. imagine, the repair fees could get even higher than the actual guitar itself!
however if I were to suggest a cheap Ibanez, I would strongly suggest getting an RG321. in my opinion its like the best entry level Ibanez you can get. there should be plenty of good 2nd hand deals out there within the $300 - $400 range.
however if there is no way to convince your folks, than too bad la, the gio series is the only route to go if you are still heading the Ibanez route. good luck though!