get an arduino, get a good resistor assortment pack, 500 count or better, get a pile of 100nf caps (code 104 or 0.1uf) and some basic LED's, maybe some chips like a couple of 74HC595's, then go to the local thift store and get a 3$ VCR
the VCR will give you motors, piles of wire, buttons and random crap