Figuring out what you will use your pc for is the foundation for getting best bang for your buck. Mine is light gaming and medium editing for now since I don't expect a payday anytime soon when I finally get a job.
Microtransactions have basically zero utility outside of a looking cool in a specific video game. If I am being honest of I spend $20 on these things every day I would have lost $7,300. That's the cost of a medium-high end PC and this is assuming you have no other costs - no taxes, no rent, no utilities, no subscription bullshit - just microtransactions. You might as well just save it money for a faster CPU or GPU or better yet, putting it aside as part of an emergency fund.
Would I pay $20 for a basic meal? No! It's a rip-off, doubly so given that a big chunk of the $20 doesn't even go to compensating the workers behind it it goes to the c suite so they can buy another yacht, except it has actual utility: giving our body nutrition.
Personally as someone from the PCMR crowd, I think console is great for convenience. If you want something that works out if the box, that's the where console shines. The problem with console is entirely due to the companies who produce the consoles, especially due to shit like planned obsolescence.
Inspect carefully and/or ask the seller. The listing must contain ALL the specs such as model names, speeds, and max capacity of components. This is important for later. If there is not enough information on the specs, discard the listing immediately.
Once you are aware of the specs, you can find upgrade components, make sure they are compatible with your case and motherboard.
Ask yourself "What do you need?" Your purchase can depend on what type of work you do and their intensity. These days, 32 gigs is recommended but you can exceed it but it may cost more.
Take the previously mentioned specs and look for similar components for the same price.