Timex for a starter?

Timex offer great watches! I've got an iconic Snoopy/Peanuts automatic and styled it with yellow accent strap matching the yellow 2nd hand; great weekend watch; it has got more wrist time than my "boring/mainstream" Rolex watches:

I'm wearing my Easy Reader today, and the new Expedition Solar is several steps above that in almost every way. 

I'll be a bit contrarian and insist that you get a Casio F-91W or some other utterly pedestrian cheap and cheery plasticky watch. It's almost impossible to go wrong with something like this. They're fairly iconic. You may learn something about what you like and don't, and you can basically give it away in the worst case.

Timex is good - a lot of options depending on what you like. 
Are you after autos or hand-wind?

Honestly - and nobody really listens to me - you have so much choice about what you can grab. Look at all the random stuff on here via the discover tab, see what tickles your fancy. Embrace micro-brands as an option, they are unique and get in on the ground floor. If you want to go vintage (don’t - save yourself), ask our resident vintage masochists (you’ll know who they are). You want to go for classic brands - go ahead. Quartz? Perfectly acceptable. Want to try a homage like a Pagani or St Martin - do it. AliExpress? Dive in. There are no “bad” watch manufacturers, so to speak, so just think about what you like and why.

I will say this right now, in 2022 there is no wrong way to start a watch collection. All watches are good if you like them.

Timex is great - my first one was a weekender. Skagen has some unique designs in a quartz sense - some of the seiko 5s and you can always go on eBay and search for a sterile dial parnis - it’s most homages that are automatic and really cheap - no one would know what You are wearing besides a watch nerd

Are you going for the 36mm or the 41mm?

I've got the 36mm. The thing that keeps it from being a daily wear is the lack of a date complication. Most of the time during a work week I'm checking the date more than the time.

Otherwise a nice lightweight practical watch which can be dressed up or down based on the strap.

My $45 weekender was the watch that started my strap addiction after wearing out the first strap it came with. It's taken a beating over the years and still works great. It won't be the last Timex in my collection. 

No matter how large your collection may become there should always be room for a Timex.  I have had one or more for many decades. The Explorer is an excellent watch and is a tough and durable field watch.

In fact, Timex might be the most aptly named watch brand (see contra @MarceloSkeletonKey ) In his underground lair @Scaramanga sits on a throne of Richard Mille watches and gently strokes a Timex reissue.

To OP (@ogi3fun) - I forgot to add before I went all inspirational speaker on you, with Timex be aware of pricing and RRP. I discuss this a little in the review of the Peanuts 70th Anniversary Marlin (not a plug btw), but they constantly have deals and sales, which muddies the true value of the watch. Your experience of the watch will also be tainted by the price by which you obtain it (naturally). I paid £80 for the Peanuts Marlin in a shop, it was £125 on the UK website that day of the review at 50% off, RRP was £250. I am very pleased for £80; I would ok at £125, but very unhappy at £250 for what the watch is, does, functions and wears.

No.

Not "Know".

Edited for clarity.  The edit feature is a real boon to the fat fingered.

Since the term "budget" is relative, I hope you don't mind my asking what price range you'll be shopping. That will help with the suggestions. Also, if you have any preferences, such as analog vs. digital, quartz vs. mechanical.

Armed with that information we'll be able to give you some precise recommendations beyond what the helpful folks here have already provided. 👍