Your Tech License is good for 10 years. You can buy a Baofeng UV-82C and just start using 2M and 70cm with your local repeater.
I use my little UV-82C and a small TNC to show you can use a radio to do what GPS does. Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) at aprs.fi (yep, the fins invented it) Allows you to track your position where ever you are (as long as you are near a repeater or gateway somewhere with an APRS frequency guarded.
The 82C allows you to also transmit and receive marine VHF. You aren’t supposed to do that with those radios, but I’ve got Sea Scouts. I’d rather they get a nasty gram from the FCC than need to use the radio for a distress call and not be able to.
