I'm planning my first wild camping trip. My gear must be light. I'll be next to a good source of water, which will be boiled. I'm taking food and shelter, basically.

My biggest concern is cooking: What's your opinion on camp fires versus a butane stove versus something like an alcohol stove? I don't have a large budget.

I'll be camping this autumn, so not really cold. But a camp fire can be pleasant -- gathering enough fuel while there's still light can be difficult.
An alcohol stove or butane stove is alright for boiling water, or cooking, but cannot really be used for warmth or things like roasting hotdogs (it's not too long of a trip out; my menu is not set in stone).

But to get to the point: If you were camping in a place with lows in the 60s Fahrenheit; 15º-20ºC), and did not currently have a camp stove of any sort, what would you choose on a tight budget? Pros and cons? Would you deliberately avoid one over the others?