Hello John, and welcome.
I'd agree with the posters here that binoculars should be your first purchase. You'll see a lot and learn your way around the sky. As to what your second purchase should be, it depends where your interest lies. Some say the Dobsonian is the best second purchase, and if your interest is in observing faint galaxies and the like then that gives far and away the best bang for the buck. If you want to start photographing things then you'll need a good sturdy motorised equatorial mount and nice sharp refractor - size not so important. Many would argue that the best compromise is a Maksutov/Schmidt Cassegrain type scope - the short fat tube design - on a goto mount - Meade and Celestron make a range of these. This type of telescope with its computer controlled goto mount will show you a lot in a short time, but you may not learn so much from the experience.
But start with lightweight binoculars, a starmap or planisphere and a comfy sunlounger and start looking up!
Hope that helps,
Paul.
  