Goose,
I know what you are going through,I was a poor kid in a family of 7 and the baby at that.So when it came to elk hunting and guns I was always last.

But lucky for youI have done some bargin shopping,for the best bang for your buck you cannot beat the Stevens Modle 200.You can pick one up new for about 250-270 dollars,put a Nikon pro staff on it and be set.It will cost around 400 dollars total.They make it in some fine elk rounds also,30-06,7mm RM,300 Win Mag and 308 win.
If you can't swing that start looking for a used rifle,if a scope is out of the question find a used Savage with open sights in 30-06 or 7mm RM.I know for shure you can find these on Gunbroker for 200-250 dollars,20-25 dollars shipping and you are set.
Ammo wise 30-06 is probaly the cheapest and most vastly found,there is nothing wrong with a 15.00 box of 180grcore-loks,or pay 10 bucks more for noslers.

P.S. If you can't find one by end of Summer have your dad get a hold of me,I could posibly have a deal for you.
BBJ