I don’t think spending most of the money on room acoustics and high-end monitors is a good choice for a beginner, especially one on a very limited budget. The Focusrite VRM system is a very acceptable replacement, especially on a temporary basis, that is until funds become available for serious near-fields and room treatment.
On the other hand, I would spend on decent monitoring headphones, like the AT ATH-M50 ($150), which works fantastically with the VRM system ($100.) $250 will get you nothing as far as good monitors and room treatment go.