Hello @etwilley,
I suggest you invest your short term funds in room treatment. You can improve the sound in almost any room. If your room has problems, almost no audio system will sound good, and certainly not its best.
The easiest place to start is probably putting either absorption or diffraction panels on the sidewalls. You can find a good position by having someone hold a mirror on the sidewall. Sitting in your listening position, where you see the tweeter (and midrange) is where to put the panel. You can always adjust later if needed.
If you are handy, you can DIY several panels for about $150 or less. I use Roxul Safe n Sound (IS 1.5” panels preferred because they are denser and have similar sound absorption properties.) for absorption and acoustic fabric to cover. You can place additional panels on the front wall behind the speakers if needed.
If you have bass issues, traps can help improve the sound balance of the system. Easiest way to set, is to you play a consistent bass track and wander around the room. If you discover peaks and valleys, or your listening position is not “right,” then the traps will help a lot. The bas traps can be constructed the same way, just double or triple up the Roxul IS panels.
If you DIY the panels, you can use your leftover funds on entry-level audiophile cables which are probably a good investment. As @ggc stated above, power is important and often overlooked.
Enjoy your new hobby, but be warned, it is addictive!