I am a newbie too, started almost a week ago. I did 2 weeks of research before I bought my first kit. I went with a Joye Ego because of the battery life in which it does have a long battery life. Mine is a manual push button so I can control the throat hit. I also refill my carts and I am in the process of researching e juices at the moment. The initial cost of the starter kit and extra carts, juice, parts is going to be your biggest cost. As far as suppressing your nic craving, well I guess this works differently with each person but I still find myself having nic cravings from time to time and I do still smoke analog cigs but only 4 to 5 at the max per day. I am hoping that will decrease as I get farther along in this. I would try to match the nic mgs in the ejuices as close to what you are use to in the analog cigs. If you don't get enough nic from the e cigs you will crave analog cigs and possible have withdrawal symptoms. I was a 2 packer full flavor smoker a day so I went with 18mg e juice and that isn't doing it for me, I have nic fits and withdrawal symptoms. My new order of juice is 24mgs, I am hoping this will stop the cravings and withdrawal symptoms. If it doesn't I will puff more often or go to a higher mg. Getting use to a e cig, learning how to use it properly, doing the maintainance are all time and effort learning process apparently all newbies go through. This forum is an excellent tool in helping, showing, learnig, ideas and the list goes on. Best forum I have ever seen on any subject and I do tons of research on tons of subjects. Read, learn and absorb all you can from this forum. Good Luck and happy vaping