Hey there beginners! This is the first in a series I’m going to attempt called Personal Shopper. These are friendly, non-threatening, and not too pricey. All toys here ring in at under $30, because I love you!
If you’re looking to try a first sex toy, I recommend going for something small and inexpensive. The True Blue Kit is a nice place to start.
The True Blue contains lube, a vibrating cock ring, a basic vibrator, and a massage bar. The lube is a really nice one- water-based (which means you can use it with any toy) and body-friendly- free of parabens and glycerin. The vibrator is a buzzy insertable (for vaginas, NOT for butts) that runs on batteries. To translate: some vibrators are buzzier (more like an electric toothbrush) and some are thuddier (more like an off-kilter washing machine.) Neither is inherently better- it’s a matter of personal taste. Personally, I find buzzy vibes to be a little numbing sometimes, but they’re definitely stimulating and tend to be a little cheaper. The ring can be slipped over a cock or a toy for added clit stimulation while you enjoy penetration. The massage bar is a really nice way to get in touch with your partner. Batteries are included (!) and the whole package is $24. Not too shabby! (Oh, and all of those elements are available for individual purchase if you want just one of them. Click through the link and you’ll find them.)
Another fun, buzzy option is the Colorpop FingO vibe. 
This little guy is a perfect transition for folks who like to masturbate with fingers. These vibes are easy to wear and incorporate nicely into solo or partner play. They’re subtle, if you can say that about a jelly-sleeved neon vibrator- in that they’re just kind of a turbo-boost to whatever motions you were doing on your own. They’re not very strong, which is what some folks are looking for. $20, nice little toy! They come with batteries too.
For boys looking for vibes, may I recommend the Man Eater:
This $29 little weirdo is a firm plastic vibrating alien. Yep. Basically you slide your cock inside his mouth like an ear of corn. Some guys find vibration to be very pleasurable, and some don’t, but at $29 you don’t have much to lose. I recommend lubing this guy up with some water-based lube and sliding him along the underside of your dick, focusing on frenulum and head. This would be fun for solo or partner play- including in the shower, because it’s waterproof. And if you find it numbing (I doubt you would) it would be a nice fun way to last longer with later play. For added cute, you change his settings by pressing on his belly button. Adorbs!
Also for gentlemen- The Tenga Egg.
I know these are a little weird looking, but trust me here. Inside these plastic shells are little egg-shaped sleeves with fun textures inside. You put some lube inside and slide them onto your cock.
The magical elastomer material inside stretches to accommodate your member, and the squishy slippery insides feel like nothing you’ve felt before. Though marketed as single-use, these eggs can be gently washed and left inside-out to dry and used 2 or 3 times. Turned inside out, you can also stretch one over the head of a Hitachi Magic Wand for a squishy, slightly dampening (in a good way) treat. They’re $8.50.
(also available in a stylish Keith Harrington edition!)
And last but not least- some beginner butt toys! Butts are fun for everyone. May I introduce the Sidekick:
This is a nice silicone smallish toy that’s not too big and not too small. The wide base keeps it from getting sucked up inside you (ALWAYS use a flared base!) and the wider bulb/ narrower neck means it’ll stay in your bum hands-free, so you can do other things while it’s in there. Also, silicone is my personal favorite toy material, especially for butt toys, because it’s completely sterilizable. You can even boil them! Many silicone toys are pricier but this one comes in at $22-$24 depending on size.
SO. Be brave! Go buy a toy. Let me know how it goes!
Those Plums 