I hear you. My first indoor grow setup I bought from an ad in High Times in 1980 or so. Promised you a complete indoor hydro unit. I was in Colorado so winter was lost otherwise. $400.00. Got me a HUGE HPS street light. Literally. The reflector was one like you see on parking lots. Magnetic ballast weighed a ton. Hotter than the hubs of hell. A huge kitty litter type tray, some lava, a pump. some ebb and flood fittings (not good stuff either but cobbled) and some nutrients. 1000-watt. The truck stop next door's lights dimmed when I flipped it on. Never thought once about the light. I taught advanced first aid to all the cops and firemen there and one called immediately. calling "Hey Slim! You got a fire upstairs at your place? Shore is bright up thar ya better let me come check it!"
No internet. 600 people in town so the mailman knew I got High Times. Had to adapt from years of growing outdoors to indoors. What a trip.