What software gives ya most bang for your buck for a newbie? I have never attempted to edit photos but I need something to occupy my time to keep my head focused on rather than focusing on stuff I can't do anything about. It looks like fun to me but honestly, I have no idea where to start.
I'd go with GIMP since it's totally free.
Yes it is free and it looks interesting but I like Adobe and I'm willing to pay them for their outstanding products and the work they put into them.