PiercedMrsP, Since costs are an issue for you, i'd recommend that you look at
GIMP : This is often compared to Photoshop CS#, but is totally free and more powerful then you'll ever need (as is Photoshop) There are plenty of tutorials free on the web or books to buy. Like photoshop you need an add-on to support raw files if this is what you shoot. Its called UFraw.
Aftershot Pro : Works on Linux/Win/Mac operating systems, is faster than Lightroom, but does cost around the same amount of money. Not so many free tutorials on the web, but it is the better product of the two, at around similar prices.