New guy with an at200 ST, First steps? Options

[wild_hamster]

So i dont know if there is a proper thread for this already (if so, mods, please move it )

I JUST got my hands back on my first car which is a 1996 Celica ST (auto trans, 7a-fe of course). My Mom got a new Subie, so she handed her 98 honda prelude to my sister, who had the celica before me and after me when I got my truck, then i got this car since no one wanted anything that slow, my dad drives a supercharged 03 camaro z28 as his daily driver haha. This was my first car when i didnt really know too much about motors or technical stuff. Then i started getting into cars and bikes and started helping friends with stuff as a helping hand and started learning a crap ton and acquiring another crap ton of tools to work on my own current vehicle, a 2001 Ford Ranger 3.slow, but thats for another forum lol.

So now that i have 2 perfectly working vehicles, I want to turn the celica into a project.

I have a decent job but also have rent and need to eat so i am on a budget, and a g/f watching my money since I'm bad at saving haha.

So i want to know (sorry, inb4 TL:DR) is what should i do to the car? This thing is BONE-stock, not a single mod done to it other than a new stereo and speakers, no subs or custom wiring, just a new deck and better speakers.

I am interested in doing a swap to something (most likely a 4a-ge) unless i can get some power out of the little 7A, to match the stock power of the 4A then i will be a happy man as i dont want to do a swap really, since i dont have the time, know-how or space. I already know maybe some headers+exhaust (but what actually the best parts/brands are) and CAI or RAI, but what else, does anyone do internal upgrades for the 7A platform like cams etc?

Suggestions for a noob?