AK:
This doesn't have to be an expensive hobby, although I sometimes choose to make it so. You can make your own, or improvise, for a lot of the equipment you may need. You are doing it right, though, by researching. Learn everything you can before you try to hive your first colony.
Your first stop is this forum, there are a bunch of friendly folks here who are willing to share their knowledge with you, and they will not look at you funny if you post what you might consider a stupid question. We all learn somewhere. As far as I'm concerned-the only stupid question is the one you don't ask. Good luck, and we're all pulling for you.