How do I start? I don’t have a budget, and I would just like some advice. I’m looking to create an RPG game someday, but how do I get from opening my computer… to making games? Should I start with animation in places like blender and character model there? Should I learn UE5 first? I feel a little lost.
Hey @anonymous_user_a0ab39a4! Welcome to the Forums!
I guess you are a little bit more lucky according to @AntiGravity, you’ll have at least two. 
All jokes aside, that is a great question, and getting started can be daunting. To add on to what has been already said, what you should look for first is a foundation for the development process. Here are a few tips that I highly suggest:
- Start small. And when I say that I mean really small. Focus on small, maybe 5 minute or less games that just focus on learning one feature or gameplay element. This is a lot more work than you think starting out, so it’s a good way to get a feel for the engine, as well as learning how to creatively make your own solutions to problems you face.
- Learn what a game design document is, and how to use it. This will help you focus your efforts on what you want to do (even for those 5 minute mini games), keeping you on track and building good management for larger projects.
- Take a course. The best way to reach what you want to do is to stand on the shoulders of giants. The course does not have to be expensive, or even have to cost anything. In fact, UE has a great beginner lesson for creating your first small game. Your First Game In Unreal Engine 5
- Last but definitely not least, participate in Game Jams. Once you get a little comfortable with what you are doing, you can start challenging your skills and improve. This will focus on those minigames I mentioned before, and really hone in on fundamentals and creating new gameplay in a focused timeline, honing all of your skills. You don’t always have to submit your entries or even be a part of the official sign up, but definitely try to finish before the deadline. You can expand on any of those ideas you created later as a bonus!
I know it seems like a lot, and honestly it is. But game development is a skill, just like any career skill, that takes some work to get proficient in. Once you have some good foundational work, the rest just comes with time and experience.
I hope the above is what you are looking for, and good luck!
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maknig a game involves many different disciplines.
some of them you will enjoy, some of them you wont. some you will be good at. Others you wont.
You cannot know where your strengths and weaknesses will be until you try.
If you find that you can program but you cant art, then you could rely more on using art other people created. And if you can art but you suck at coding, you may be able to get some help with that.
To make a game on your own is going to be nearly impossible if you cant do at least a tiny bit of everything. And to learn everything you probably need 3-5 years of full time effort.
Maybe you can get your skills to a professional level in just one discipline though, and then become part of a team somewhere. That is probably the most viable approach for most people.
You’ll find a lot of motivational stuff on youtube or other places of people showing amazing progression in short time. But be aware, an interactive scene or a few game mechanics is not a complete game. It’s about 0.01% of a completed, market-ready game. So don’t get any crazy notions and start thinking it’s a get rich quick thing.
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Also! What would be good practice habits? like notes, or how should I learn so hat the information I’m taking in won’t come in onw ear and out the other!
do project based stuff.
repetition builds mastery.
if you do something academic where they just should a ton of different solutions but you haven’t fought the problem first, you won’t remember much.
How long did it take you to get to the pint of where you were comfortable navigating the software, and have a basic knowledge of most of its components.
a few months, but I do it all day everyday. At least 70 hours most weeks.
I forgot to mention, I have done a ton of tutorials and I think gamedev.tv are the very best. Doing some tutorials like that is much faster than trying to learn every little thing yourself starting from zero.
Good to try and learn as much as you can from other people. But you won’t understand anything until you’ve actually done the work on your own.
how much practice a day?
as much as or as little as you want 
don’t waste too much time thinking. if you want to make a game or something liek that, just get started.