Diy paint/high school budget

I bought omni primers and paints and didn't really like them. Particularly the primers.
The primer sanded very gummy for me and hard to get a suitable surface for color. The metallics didn't have much for pigment. I had to spray on more basecoat than a better brand just to get it to cover which added to the cost. The clear was OK.
Never had a problem with their solid colors, covered well. I just found the omni line hard to work into a great paint job but its possible.
We only have one paint supplier in the town I live in and he pushes the omni. I will try to mail order a different paint next time as the omni really worked me hard. Would be lots cheaper also to go with a older method.
I will probably go with lacquer as primitive as that sounds. It requires some patience
to give it time to outgas or shrink during the bodywork or fill stage but sands so easy and is super easy to use and repair any flaws you may encounter during your learning curve.
Just plan on going over the areas that need straitened in many thinner coats unlike the modern fill primers. If you got more time and patience than money it is a way to have great control over the end result. Mistakes are so easily erased.
You will have to buff the topcoat after it has time for the solvents to evaporate for a couple months. And also wax it more often particularly if kept outside. Definetly a higher maintence finish but it will shine great for years if you keep it polished regular like guys used to do in the old days. Chips easier if you drive on a gravel road though.
Almost forgot it goes on in a bunch of lighter coats so it takes a lot more circles going around the car during the spraying process and can be sanded between coats to take out any dust or bug that lands while it was still liquid.
This would not a be a good way to paint a car for a guy who is tooled up or skilled in the modern finishes because of the slower process but for a beginner on a tight budget it definitly has some advantages.
Being a hobbyist rather than a pro myself its how my paint money will be spent.