In general, you want about 1-1.5 pounds per gallon. You do realize that the real cost of keeping a ceph is supplying the live food??? If you can't afford the cost of setting up the aquarium, you might want to delay getting a cephalopod until you have a bit more $$$.
Have you considered volunteering at an aquarium? I don't know if there are any near you, but it would be a good way to meet people who love the same things you do and to get some experience caring for lots of sea creatures.
I don't know what part of Texas you are from (and I know Texas is BIG), but there are aquariums in Galveston, Dallas and Corpus Christi.