I am two years into learning Japanese and it has been great. Over the years I have collected some excellent 100% FREE resources for learning the language:
lang-8.com - free sentence corrections from natives
sharedtalk.com - free online chat (with about 10 different languages, not just Japanese)
niconicovideo.jp - for watching videos
youtube - for watching videos, music, and movies
netflix - for watching movies
osu - a rhythm game oriented around japanese music
anki - flashcard program for Android phone and Windows
obenkyou - flashcard program for Android
yahoo.jp - news articles and natives asking questions
jisho.org - trusty dictionary
senmanga.com - for reading raw manga (non-translated)
wikipedia - grammar syntax research
nijitv - for watching real Japanese TV online
Bottom line is, resources are everywhere. You just have to look around and put together an arsenal that works best for you
I have not taken any class or study program, and maybe spent at most $40 total towards studying the language, that was all just on a grammar dictionary.