I'm a beginner so useful advise. Thanks. I add some practical points for beginners:

1. Choose your cryptocurrency: Being on this forum I assume you have already chosen Bitcoin (BTC).    

2. In your country, find out your currency to BTC gateway. to move from your currency to BTC and back. Your currency to BTC gateway must work for you , be trustworthy, fast and not too expensive. You should have to go through a cryptocurrency exchange so find out their registration requirements and you get money to them and back out. Or you may be able to pay country currency into a cryptocurrency cash machine that will credit your Bitcoin Key. there are quite hefty fees as there are the machines and complex programs to ensure security. Or someone else who you give cash to who is on Bitcoin and so can credit your Bitcoin Key. This step 2. is extremely important so that you maintain control over your BTCs and can access them to make payments and move your BTCs back into your currency for local payments.

3. Take a look a bitcoin.org. and the internet to choose a  wallet that suits you. You can even have a mobile phone or paper wallet too, for small amounts!
https://bitcoin.org/en/bitcoin-for-individuals