zecco.com is perhaps the cheapest, no-frills brokerage I've ever used: $4.5/trade (and believe me, I've used quite a few out there).  Their execution and the fills were pretty good but if you have any questions and need to chat with a live rep, then you can be prepared to uproot your hair with frustration.  Aside from that aspect, they're the best bang for the lil dollars you wanna shell out (for the novies).  Awesome part about it, you get 10 free trades a month too.  Next on the list, Trade King.  Have heard some really good reviews on them too.  Their commissions are $4.95/trade.  However, if you plan on trading more going forward (approx. excess of 60 trades/month), then try Interactive Brokers.  You may pay fees for the exchange, etc but overall, you'll save more dinero as the theory of economies of scale is put into play here.  And the best part, you could play everything from FX to treasuries on thier portal.

And, whats this about a good time to Buy?  Even the pundits don't know where the markets heading and I see all the soccer-dads and moms talking about this being the perfect time to buy.  Don't let the media fool you.  With a global depression looming and the Dow tanking triple digits every single day and with the Fed in a position to fall into a liquidity trap, it really seems to me that there is more downfall to come about.  Is this the Bottom of the Market?  Definitely Not.  Would we see a rally anytime soon?  A 100% NO.  How much further could the markets go?  If I knew that then I would be rolling along with Warren Buffet.

All the best.