The $250 electronics lab, a suggested setup for beginners.

[knks]

I mostly do digital stuff, but even my opinion the scope is the number 1 in the list. If I had to make a choice, I would rather buy a scope + cheap $10 multimeter + cheap $10 iron, than just good temperature controlled soldering station + good multimeter but no scope at all.

Just be aware, cheap multimeter is only safe to measure low voltage.

[jinzo]

I'm a newbie mostly interested in (car) electronics repair. So my usual workflow consists of some chip desoldering and soldering it back. I got a cheap used temperature controlled soldering station some time ago (and I have small accessories like tweezers, helping hands,...). Now I'm looking to expand my tooling with:
- Variable power supply, I'll be mostly using it to power up 12V devices, but might go up to 24V in near future (and need something that won't kill me or the devices I'm powering). I'm looking at http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-Wholesale-precision-Compact-Digital-Adjustable-DC-Power-Supply-OVP-OCP-OTP-low-power-32V5A/1842453949.html or http://www.komerci.de/shop/product_info.php?products_id=863&cPath=30&osCsid=d0acb3203f51f51df3e203ad1757129d
- Magnifier lamp with light. I don't know how many diopters should I choose (or any other feature I should be looking at for the matter), looking at: http://www.komerci.de/shop/product_info.php?products_id=745&cPath=33_54&osCsid=847861f6793b13ccdccfb8541bfa018a
- Multimeter, I'll be mostly using it for continuity checks and some light measuring, nothing major - considering UT-61E, UT-139C and EX330. I'll probably go with UT-139C -> mostly on the good word I read on this forum (and it has the temperature reading that I see myself using from time to time).
- Hot Air - I'll go with YouYue 858D+ -> because it's the only cheap one (that I can afford) and there's quite some info (and modifications) for it on this forum: http://www.ebay.de/itm/DE-Lager-858D-SMD-Hot-Rework-Station-Heisluft-Loten-fur-SOIC-Chip-QFP-PLCC-BGA-/351063211031?pt=Schwei%C3%9F_L%C3%B6ttechnik&hash=item51bcff7c17

Any input would be very appreciated. Budget for the whole expansion is around ~250€. If only those pesky hot air stations wouldn't be so darn expensive
Next up would probably be some "handheld" oscilloscope for sensor checking on the go... but that's a whole new thing that I'll leave for sometime in the future.

[LEDAero]

I'm a newbie mostly interested in (car) electronics repair. So my usual workflow consists of some chip desoldering and soldering it back. I got a cheap used temperature controlled soldering station some time ago (and I have small accessories like tweezers, helping hands,...). Now I'm looking to expand my tooling with:
- Variable power supply, I'll be mostly using it to power up 12V devices, but might go up to 24V in near future (and need something that won't kill me or the devices I'm powering). I'm looking at http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-Wholesale-precision-Compact-Digital-Adjustable-DC-Power-Supply-OVP-OCP-OTP-low-power-32V5A/1842453949.html or http://www.komerci.de/shop/product_info.php?products_id=863&cPath=30&osCsid=d0acb3203f51f51df3e203ad1757129d
- Magnifier lamp with light. I don't know how many diopters should I choose (or any other feature I should be looking at for the matter), looking at: http://www.komerci.de/shop/product_info.php?products_id=745&cPath=33_54&osCsid=847861f6793b13ccdccfb8541bfa018a
- Multimeter, I'll be mostly using it for continuity checks and some light measuring, nothing major - considering UT-61E, UT-139C and EX330. I'll probably go with UT-139C -> mostly on the good word I read on this forum (and it has the temperature reading that I see myself using from time to time).
- Hot Air - I'll go with YouYue 858D+ -> because it's the only cheap one (that I can afford) and there's quite some info (and modifications) for it on this forum: http://www.ebay.de/itm/DE-Lager-858D-SMD-Hot-Rework-Station-Heisluft-Loten-fur-SOIC-Chip-QFP-PLCC-BGA-/351063211031?pt=Schwei%C3%9F_L%C3%B6ttechnik&hash=item51bcff7c17

Any input would be very appreciated. Budget for the whole expansion is around ~250€. If only those pesky hot air stations wouldn't be so darn expensive
Next up would probably be some "handheld" oscilloscope for sensor checking on the go... but that's a whole new thing that I'll leave for sometime in the future.

Sounds like me

I just bought a UT61E (didn't need temp) a bench power supply, a soldering station with hot air, etc.

The UT I got from this store - good price and FAST shipping at a reasonable price: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-Shipping-UNI-T-UT-61E-Modern-Digital-Multimeters-UT61E-AC-DC-multi-meter/586532912.html

The solder station I bought from YiHua's factory outlet on Aliexpress: Cheap DHL shipping and fast - so far it has exceeded my expectations. I have desoldered, flow soldered, tip soldered and it has worked flawlessly. http://www.aliexpress.com/item/YIHUA-995D-LCD-rework-station-with-hot-air-gun/1477320527.html

The magnifier I bought has a bunch of different magnifications thrown in. It's comfortable and relatively light, with a good LED: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2-LED-With-Light-Head-mounted-Magnifier-Headset-Light-Head-Magnifying-Glass/1789794028.html

The 0-35V 5A bench power supply I bought seems really well made and works great - but... the connectors are on the back (a PITA) and the leads they give you to go with it are useless - alligator clips at both ends. But... I made a pair of long hooks for it and it works really well - the voltage is stable and within .1% of the rating (according to my new UT61E): http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Freeshipping-Wholesale-precision-Compact-Digital-Adjustable-DC-Power-Supply-OVP-OCP-OTP-low-power-32V5A-110V/2040084547.html

[Paul Price]

You don't need to spend any money buying a power supply. A discarded 3.5amp 21V brick laptop power supply would be just fine. Add LM317 or 78L05/7805 regulators with a trim pot to set the voltage wanted right on the center of of your attention, the breadboard.

 All you then need is a small heat sink for your LM317 to wear if you are drawing any big power on your experiments.
 
An old discarded PC's ATX power supply is a good source of small and large heat sinks, but they can also be found in almost any discarded electronic home equipment and salvaged.

BTW. a discarded PC ATX power supply can also be used as a bench supply, plenty of info on this on this board and youtube.

A magnifier-glass-lamp is very useful for work on small circuits, but it serves another important safety purpose, it protects your eyes and lungs from solder fumes and possible eye injuries.