I'm a banker and have been for over 25 years now. Your "friends" comment about a 150/152 being a "waste of money" is poor financial advice at best and downright airplane snobbery in all liklihood.
My first airplane was a 150 (granted with the O-320 STC which made it interesting, but a 150 none the less). Why did I buy a 150 when I could have bought a Mooney or maybe even a Bonanza???? Because I had never owned an airplane before. My 150 educated me while building hours and did so at a very reasonable cost. In truth...ANY "non-business" airplane is a "wast of money" if you do not add the convenience and pleasure factor. Same as a Boat/Motorcycle/ and 6 Passenger 1 ton Diesel Ford pickup (which for the price, you could have 2.5 Cessna 150's).
So...tell your friend that you have sought professional aviation financial advice, and are making a sound, educated decision.
As long as you keep emotion out of the buying process, you may actually get your original investment back out of your 150 when you do decide to trade up....and you will then know what you are in for (well unless you buy a Cardinal like I did....then you are back to making stupid emotional buying decisions....but I sure love to fly that decision).
