Okay, since you say you do not intend to put any money into the, which is understandable, there is not much advice I can give you. One thing you can do however, is take a couple of minutes every day that you log in and watch the free videos. 7 credits a day is not much, but if you save them up, you will be able to amass a few hundred credits. You can also complete one or more offers, if you happen to find one for something that you were going to buy anyway (The NetFlix offer is a good one and will get you some decent credits).
As Icon said, there is a HUGE difference between the basic equipment and the high-end clubs, but there is also a big difference between starter clubs and almost any clubs that are available after approximately level 25.
In the end, it is your decision, and if you are having fun just playing the game with the starter equipment, then by all means continue to do so and have fun. Best of luck to you.
Marks84