I think that it is a mistaken notion that I see frequently from beginners that they ought to get cheap tools because they will use them up rather quickly from sharpening. After almost ten years my original tools are, at most, a half-inch shorter than when new -- many are almost the same length as when new.
This is one of those "your mileage may vary" situations. I started out with a set of inexpensive Benjamin's Best tools, which fortunately performed quite well. I learned to sharpen free hand on what I was advised to consider my 'sacrificial' tools.
Just now, I measured my original bowl gouge and skew (which I love and use often). They both started with 6 3/8" of steel sticking out of the handle and both now have 4 1/4" of steel left, or about 1/2" per year of use. The bowl gouge started out shorter than usual for the brand name tools and now has only 1 1/4" of usable flute left--it's become my 'undercutting the rim' tool. But I also have a spindle roughing gouge, a smaller skew, and 3 scrapers, which are still plenty long. All for the cost of a single high quality bowl gouge.
That being said, I recently purchased an inexpensive bowl gouge of a different brand to use solely for roughing bowl outsides and it's a nightmare. I can't get the grind I want on it due to the too shallow flute and it gets dull much, much faster than my good gouge, and even faster than my original cheap gouge. This new cheap gouge has been worse than a waste of $35--it's aggravating, produces poor cuts due to vibration and wastes time and steel on frequent sharpening.
I think there is definitely a place for an inexpensive set of tools for beginners, as long as you're careful and lucky enough to select a set with decent steel and flutes. Doing so allows you to do a variety of turning until you discover which type you're going to find most appealing, and it allows you to spend a little more on safety equipment or accessories or lessons.
Having fewer, better quality tools is also a good way to go, as it will be a pleasure to use them and they may be more forgiving. If you also will invest in a good jig set up, like the Wolverine sharpening system, it doesn't have to be expensive, when looked at over the long haul, as Bill points out.
And Tyler, before the snow gets too deep, get in touch with one of your "local" turning clubs and hook up with an experienced turner for hands on help. It's the best thing you can do to get off on the right foot. Duluth (originally I wrote Detroit--what was I thinking???) and Bemidji aren't too far to go for the considerable benefit you'll receive.