Can a free advertising gets you forward in creating an on-line income?

An internet "guru" once told me, "you can't get anywhere with free advertising!" Going through the pages in the internet, the pros and cons are getting bigger but the cons edged higher. To newbies, with no experience really had a hard time penetrating especially if they have no finances to support their advertising. Big timers, internet millionaires say, we are here to help you. Just follow me and spend $1 to get "my nothing to worry software." Once you're in, forget it and cash is coming in. However, your $1 you spend now, will become $50 monthly in participation in membership. How can you go on?