Im pretty new, and looking to learn. I have looked at miners online and they're all really expensive. I'm looking for a more cost effective route.
The most cost effective route is to buy an actual miner (ASIC).
Your laptop will catch on fire way before you see a single satoshi.
Not to mention any of these suggested USB sticks or other miners could use a RPI for 35 bucks. So no risk to laptop, running it 24x7. And some linux is easier to use with certain miners. No driver issues some have with windows.
But no day's a laptop will make any money are over. Gpu/Cpu are over most lose money from running these mining forums. High intensity on a laptop is not good 24x7. You will thank us if you don't go this route.