Couple of thoughts
First
I encourage you think about and post a preliminary budget range (what dollar range you would feel comfortable spending to get going)
Because '"not afraid to spend money" and "not having unlimited funds" is still vague because that range can vary significantly by individual circumstance for some that might be $ 300 to $$800 for some $500 to $1000 for some $5k to $10k or for some $10k to $20k... it is all completely relative to the individual.
With that said there is the caveat, in essence you do in fact want to become "a recording engineer" (Of sorts) maybe not a pro by any stretch) , but quality recording and mixing is in fact a long term learning curve and you will have to learn the techniques and skills, become acquainted with the basic technical jargon and especially develop the "critical listening skills" on a practical level, just as if you were going to start to get into it professionally (but thankfully not as extensively)
But if your going the computer route you would then be talking DAW software (Digital Audio Workstation) and depending on your preference of either Mac or PC while most DAWs will work fine on either, there are some exceptions.
With a computer and in order to your analog mic signals into the DAW .
You need a mic pre to plug the mics into and boost them to line level
You need A/D conversion (Analog signal to Digital signal)
You will also need and Audio interface to talk to the DAW.
Then in order to monitor (hear) what you are mixing in the DAW, you will need D/A conversion to change the Digital signal back to Analog that you hear on speakers or headphones
The good news is there now lots of great reasonably priced combo Interface units with decent pres and conversion in one box and probably makes the most sense for getting into it.
The Sen 941 and Rode are just fine to get started
And by all means like Rick suggested check out and search the recording forum
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