Your Chinese level is not determined by how many free PDFs you collect, but by how many exercises you complete with focus and repetition. The Boya workbook, used correctly, will take you from zero to real conversations in 4-6 months. And that is worth the small investment.
(If you want, I can produce a chapter-by-chapter breakdown, a printable weekly study plan using this workbook, or locate where to buy/access official PDFs.) Boya Chinese Elementary 1 Workbook Pdf