First-Timer

I've never grown in my life before, so I have a lot of questions that hopefully some of you will be able to answer.
1)I know I'm going to need some kind of ballast for a HPS/MH Lamp but do the ballasts come with it or do I have to purchase it separately?
2)What retail store do you recommend for HPS/MH lamps?
3)I'm definitely going to buy nutrients for each of the three stages of growth but when do I begin giving my babies nutrients and how often do I give it to them?
4)Lastly, if one of you who are reading this owns a HPS and/or a MH Lamp-how much did you pay for it and where did you get it from?

1. you can purchase together or separate.
2. The best place is online.
3. I don't give mine any nutes for the first 3 weeks to a month maybe longer depending on how they are looking. How often depends on what you feed them, follow the directions on the bottle.
4. I gave $90 for a 400 watt hps & gave $200 for a 600 watt hps with a easy cool hood. Try ebay.

Ebay is your friend do a scearch and u will find all u need all in 1 or separately .. you can get a all in 1 ballast and grow light for about $100 .h4l

hope another noobie can help, most of this i've done already:
1.you can buy ballasts separately or together with bulb and hood.
2. there is a hyproponics chain store in my town that has everything
3. assuming you used good potting soil, start feeding after two weeks and feed every third watering.
4. the lamp alone (that's the bulb) is under $100. the whole lighting setup cost me $300.