Beginner studio lighting kit for portraits, what, when, when?

Hiya, as above, im looking to buy a starter lighting kit to mainly use for headshots with a collapsible background (which I also need). Does anyone know what kind of wattage and system I should be looking for. Found on ebay, a starter kit for 拢150, including 2 x 45w lights with slave, umbrellas, double sided background. Does that sound suitable?...Also, as mentioned Id love a collapsible larger than 6 x 6 background-double sided, anyone know of great deals for them, other than Calumet, any second hand places?
Any other info you could give me for a starting photographer would be fab!.....

Thanks in advance, Talia x

Ps: I have a 400D, anyone know of a good training site to get to grips with my new cam?

Last question first:

This website will keep you going for quite a while ... the "How To" parts of it.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech.htm

Now to the question about a lighting (studio) kit

I use a single 750 watt Lowel Tota-light with an umbrella and stand (under 拢90) and use a Savage portable background stand (about 拢65). The backgrounds can be as simple as four metres of black or white cloth you can find in a yardage store.

Ken Rockwell has some good tips on how to use your portable studio equipment.

If you would like to see what one light can do, look at the link to my work here on my profile .. all the studio work is done with one light with either an umbrella or softbox

Go to shutterbug.com and read the review of Interfit's EXD200 Lighting Kit which appeared in the Oct. 2007 issue of Shutterbug. The basic kit contains: two each EXD200 heads/flash tubes/modeling lamps/stands/fuses/electrical and sync cables; one each small softbox/shoot-through umbrella/padded case. The price at publication (Oct. 2007) was $499.99. For additional information go to interfitphotographic.com.

http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/SV4600/

It's on sale too

That kit is too dear. Check out Jessops. They can put together, new or S/h kits to suit your needs. The same stuff via Calumet will cost about 100% MORE