I went from my Gilbert Chemistry Set to buying stands, bunsen burners, clamps, flasks, etc. and purchasing concentrated sulphuric, hydrochloric and nitric acid, along with 1lb. bottles of potassium bromide, etc.  My personal favorite experiment was making elemental bromine and hydrogen bromide--when I was 12-15 years old.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."