Photogs: lighting kit suggestions under $500?

[Cleo]

Lighting by Home Depot is great.

Gives the talent that sweaty look.

Keeps the pizza, burgers, fries, and nachos nice a warm and ready to eat.

Adds excitement to the shoot when one of them catches the studio on fire and/or the photographer or talent.

Can double for use whilst painting a room.

I really like using decent studio strobes myself. Ones with good modeling lights let you see what the lighting will look like without heating up the room and the flash freezes the action.