You’re too cheap. The perception may be that you’re a shit photographer.

The reality is that most photos are shit. So keep taking them. Practice, perseverance, and learning to ‘see’ are what will make you a better photographer.

One camera, one prime lens for a year. Now I don’t even bother with a zoom.

Whether a lens is ‘worth it’ really comes down to what you want to do with it. The f/2.8 is more expensive as there are usually more glass elements, etc. incorporated into its design. But you’ll get double the amount of light to the camera’s sensor compared with f/4 (sharpness can also improve at the same aperture but it’s a long story!). So for sports action/low light photography, it’s generally a winner. However, the question here is really whether the additional expense is worth it? Only you can answer that question! Good luck.

Try film photography with a prime lens. It forces to you think about each and every photo. Best thing I ever did.

Don’t be scared. Just follow your dreams. Don’t expect to make a bundle of cash, though. You don’t even need an expensive camera. Your imagination and vision are what’s needed. Use a phone camera if you must. You can also pick up a dirt-cheap SLR or micro 4/3 camera on Ebay if you want. I started my journey with a single prime lens and took some amazing shots. Less is more.