First, quit wal-mart. Go to the local airport and get a job at the FBO fueling airplanes. There are SEVERAL advantages for doing this. You might get free flight time, your around airplanes all the time, ect...Then use that $50k and do your training part 61. Dont go flight a G1000 C172 either. Fly something cheap that works and is safe. Dont go to an academy. You will feel REALLY guilty after you have spent all of your dads savings. By the way, go thank your dad for helping you out so much....if you already did then go do it again. I waited years to get the chance to learn for various reason. It would have been amazing if my dad would have been able to help me out.