Entry level job and stydying

Hi, I want to try to move into IT support/helpdesk in the future, but I am not sure where to start.

I have used Windows for around 10 years and I like solving problems when something does not work. I am not an IT professional though. I can use computers normally and I have some basic hardware troubleshooting experience from repairing phones, but I do not know much yet about business IT, networking or administration.

I currently work in the anti-churn/retentions department at the biggest ISP in my country. I enjoy the problem-solving/customer side and I would honestly like to work in technical support at the same company, but there is no support department at my local site.

I have no IT degree, no IT job experience and no certifications. I am still very new to things like:

DNSand dhcp, active Directory, m365

I keep seeing people recommend a home lab with VirtualBox, Windows Server, Active Directory, routers, Microsoft 365 tenants, servers etc. But I have a low budget and do not want to spend a lot of money before I know if this path is realistic for me.

I already have a normal Windows PC. My plan was to start with free things:

Learn more Windows troubleshooting

Learn basic networking, IP addresses, DNS, DHCP, routers, Wi-Fi and VPNs

Learn commands like ipconfig, ping, nslookup and tracert

Use Microsoft Learn and start MS-900 material

Possibly use VirtualBox/Hyper-V with Ubuntu or Windows

Write down simple troubleshooting exercises I practise

Is that enough to begin preparing for entry-level helpdesk/first-line support, or do I actually need to buy equipment and create a more advanced home lab?

If you were in my position, what would you learn first during evenings/weekends? I can probably study around 5–7 hours per week while keeping my current job.

I want honest advice. I am not expecting to become a sysadmin fast. I just want to build enough skills to eventually apply for junior helpdesk, service desk or onsite-support roles without wasting money.