I think I can safely say that you're not the only one floundering at the deep end. This forum is a definite lifebelt, but no one put any instructions on it!
I think my own problem is that I have a distinct purpose I want to use the Arduino for, and most of the newby-orientated info I have come across so far assumes that you already have a degree in C!! - which I don't. I haven't found anyone else's code that does anything near to my requirements - otherwise I would have plagurised the heck out of it already!!!
With my learning speed, I don't have enough of my allotted span left to start from scratch. I just wish I had a compiler that could take BASIC instructions and convert them to C. I might stand a chance then! Yes, I had a ZX81 as well :-[
There are some good deals on breadboards and patch leads on eBay I've noticed, if you want a low budget approach btw.