Potential newbie seeks guidance.. Please :)

[Ricard2798]

For the sake of time ill split this post in a cliff notes version, and below a greatly detailed one.

Cliff notes:
Saw the diggers show on tv and got all excited. I think i want to get into the hobby, and share the excitement with my kids. I know i wont get rich or anything, but it would be soo cool if we find even something worthless but old. Thinking about which unit to buy. Seems the garret 250 is a forums fav, but maybe theres something cheaper or used i can get. Else i might go for it... Or should i wait and get better unit?

Detailed version.
Again, saw the tv show and got me excited. Started to do some research online (code of ethics, hardware, etc). I have about 150 bucks of amazon credits i can use, and thought maybe i could go for the garret 250 based on recomendations.. But before biting e bullet, i want to know if i might be the right person for this hobby, if my localization is right, and if this a good gamily activity to share with my techie kids.

So i live in acworth ga, a few miles away from some civil war battlefields and camps. I moved here 4 years ago. My house has a wooded creek in my backyard (my property line extends to the creek). Also, the previous owner of the house ran away to india for financial fraud (why it was fully furnished and cheap.. We didnt know till the black suits knocked on our door after the purchase). So who knows if he buried something ( wishful thinking).
Also, there are alot of woods around our area.. Figured i could explore a bit.

So here i am. Ideal option would seem if i could rent a detector and try... But am unaware of such options in my area. Also dont know anyone in the hobby, so cant talk to anyone about it (well now i know u guys/gals). So thinking if i should buy, what to buy and how to do it.

Thanks in advance for any help