Photography can be expensive. You can get P&S cameras for $100, or you can get some new and a lot of used DSLR's for under $500. If you go the DSLR route, then you have to buy lenses. They can range anywhere from about $75 to $8000ish for most standard lenses. Keep in mind, you usually get what you pay for.
Then, just because you have a DSLR doesn't mean you're going to take good pictures. If you don't learn about photography and you don't ever stray out of auto mode, then it's probably a waste of money for you to look at anything besides a point and shoot.
But then again, depending on what you want to do, a P&S might not cut it. You have to decide.