I bought my first wetsuit on eBay for $15. It was black neoprene with pink and purple stripes down one side (niiiiicceeee 80's throwback). I used that suit for 2 years until I was certain that I was committed to the sport.

New neoprene is so much more flexible and comfortable. If I'd known then that I could get a new one for under $100, I wouldn't have been such a cheapskate.