In reply to Jpowell:
You say you want to practice on "the not so dangerous stuff (IE steepish hills etc that don't really pose much danger but are made way easier with equipment"
I'm not sure where you have in mind for this. To do easy scrambles with ropes and gear will require a partner, which you say you don't have. Abseiling is potentially one of the more dangerous climbing activities, and one of the most unforgiving if things go wrong, especially if you will be doing this without a partner.
Climbing has a proud history of people who went out with their mother's washing line and taught themselves to climb. Some even lived to tell the tale. But that was before there were climbing walls and climbing instructors everywhere. It's one thing studying how to do something from a book or video in the comfort of your home, quite another when you are on vertical ground facing a fall if you don't get it right.
I understand your impatience, but I think you are approaching this from the wrong end. The most important piece of kit is knowledge. Find a climbing wall or instructor and learn the basics. Join a club and climb with, and learn from, more experienced people. Then you will know what kit to buy, and more importantly how to use it.