Hey sweetie, trust me...when I signed up...my eyes were so tired from reading everything trying to figure out what to do.
Heres a hint...secondlife marketplace.
You'll be able to find cheap (possibly free) shapes, skins, hair, clothes, shoes, etc. Then all you'll need to do is find a sandbox to open up your boxes....if you have any troubles at all...feel free to contact me.(Especially if you're a bargain shopper/hunter)
Kaytie Carami