That's actually the lowest price I've seen for those. They're $100 on ebay and $60 at Costco. Only recently popped up for that price on amazon.
This is similar to one I also use, it's just not going to cover as large an area since you need the light to be pretty close to the plants. You might find you can't fit all the succs that need artificial light.
Also, that one will light up the room like a disco where the more expensive one emits mainly white light so it is not as distracting, and they can be linked if you decide you need more.
Your workmate doesn't know anything about gardening then.
These are toast. Save yourself the time and heartache and start over. Someone up the comment chain said you don't need specialized grow lights but I disagree. You can get LED grow panels on Amazon for like 20 bucks. They're cool to the touch and won't burn seedlings like an incandescent or cfl light.
You want a panel like this to be sitting no more than an inch or two from the surface of the soil. As the plants grow, the light should stay at that distance from the top leaves. It should basically be almost touching the plant. Once true leaves grow in, you can start raising the light. A tomato seedling should only be an inch or so tall before it puts out it's first true leaves.
About 16 hours under this grow light https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075JFPLY1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_w.w9AbZK8EVS0
She has been under one of these about 6 inches away since I got her https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075JFPLY1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_w.w9AbZK8EVS0
I just moved them around but I have a cheap 45w light from amazon 45w cheap light it's about 12" away from the plants. I'm going to buy the Mars Hydro instead - Mars Hydro
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075JFPLY1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_NAyJFbWNWVBCY
Best bang for your buck light on Amazon. Does a fantastic job and is only 27 dollars.
Thanks! I'm trying not to invest too much up front but how would a cheap lamp like the one below work out? They are pretty inexpensive, would it be able to sustain two of the plants? It states its a 3x3 grow area.
My apartment has two windows, both southern facing. I can't stand letting the place get too hot, so I got a grow lamp instead. My cacti and succulents are very happy. :) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075JFPLY1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_wr8hBbBY83AWJ