Fran said
So after watching videos on how to change strings and the sound post and bridge positions I looked at my violin and could use your opinion.

Bridge wasn't lined up with "F" slots so I fixed that.

  Sounds good...  although it is just a "guide" ( there are more precise ways of locating the bridge by doing careful measurements, but, that will be fine for now )

Then I look at bridge but it doesn't slope down where the "E" string sits.

  Roughy - the bridge arc should give about 5mm clearance to the G string at the end of the neck, and about 3mm clearance to the E.   It sounds from what you describe that the bridge blank may not have been shaped properly - however - I would suspect that largely all that will happen is that the "action" is higher - i.e. you have to depress the string further than should be necessary to make it reach the neck/fingerboard.  Having said that - if you are a beginner, and probably not moving far up the neck (the action height gets higher the further up the neck you play) I suspect that wouldn't really matter over much....

Once I got the bridge in center and aligned with "F" slots I see the "G" string is closer to the edge of finger board.  

  Sounds like a poorly cut bridge, in general - however - you can even - up the string spacings by very carefully filing (use a nail file or jewellers file) to put a tiny slot in the bridge where the G should be.   If you can tell it is "out" at the moment just by eye-balling it, although there ARE specific inter-string gaps - you would quite easily get away with just making a new slot, a few mm closer to the D string

Also the sound post is ahead of the bridge towards the tail piece about the distance of the sound post width.

 That sounds reasonable enough

So does this sound like a mess or what?  

   Hmmm - not really !   Don't despair....

Salvageable? This is a beginner inexpensive violin.  I was thinking of getting new strings but not sure if I should put any money into it.  

  I would still go for the new strings (keep the old ones to fit back on if you eventually decide to sell/otherwise dispose of the instrument.)

  Whatever limitations you are identifying there will almost certainly NOT prevent you from playing the instrument....   

  Anyways - that's my thoughts - let's see what others have to say.   Actually, it kind of sounds similar to the condition of my original Chinese Skylark - I bought a few bridge blanks and worked them to shape - it's not difficult - but - you benefit from a few simple tools and the ability to make careful, precise measurements (digital / or even traditional / micrometer etc ).   I still have that instrument, but she's now restrung as my viola !  LOL    As I say - wait for more informed feedback from others, but it doesn;t sound like anything that would prevent you from getting started....

EDIT: @OldOgre must have been typing at the same time as me - he's got a point - pictures are worth 1000 words LOL !