Then stick with the Marlin.
You can get your feet wet and have a useful tool all your life.
I still have one or two, and even use them although I have other stuff that is more expensive and more accurate.
When your kicking around the woods, a 300 dollar good shooter that don't weigh a ton outdoes a 1000 cadillac that you really can use to full capacity anyway.
should read: "can't use"
Its late.
I'm sure you'll get lots of advice.
Personally, like I said, you can get the Rem 7600 pump in a 30.06 caliber is an all around versatile gun. I would'nt go hunting grizzlies with it but it will do the trick on elk and definitely deer.
But for a few more dollars you can get the Rem 7600.
When I started hunting I used a Marlin 30-30 that my great grandfather passed on to my dad for myself and my brother. I carried that thing for 6 years in the woods and only fired it once, never got a deer with it. Then I went and bought a Rem. 7600 pump in 30.06 at the recommendation of my grandfather. Lighter, more accurate, more power and speed. I've used that for 7 years and have shot 5 deer with it. They all dropped except for the last one which I had to track about 100 yards.
I bought that rifle for $380, I'm sure you can find a similar deal now a days too.