Regarding DOs I'll give the dissenting opinion as I do every time this comes up.
I bought the 12" Harbor Freight DO on sale for $12 I think and it's my most used piece. The lid was dead flat when I bought it and still is. The walls might be thick/thin/uneven but I haven't measured and haven't noticed a difference in how it cooks vs. Lodge, Cabelas or Texsport. I do check the open box ones when I'm in a store however, and most of the lids do rock some.
It's easy to say "save until you can afford a Lodge" but a Lodge 12" is what - $70? Or the poster could get a 20% off coupon and have a usable DO today for a little more than $10. And one day when he gets a name brand DO he can retire the HF to bread duty (but I haven't - it's my only 12" and it's in the rotation.)
Skillets are a whole nother matter. As long as they don't say Griswald or Wagner old ones can be had all day long around here for $2-$5. You just don't see camp ovens at garage sales or junk stores in my experience. Hence I buy new.
Obviously other opinions vary
Eric