I always recommend that newbies start with a central exchange in order to become familiar with Bitcoin in a low-risk environment. It is convenient, even though it goes against the Bitcoin philosophy of decentralization.
Once someone is familiar with Bitcoin, wallets, etc. I suggest networking in a meetup group to keep these transactions "off the books."
Looking forward to more of these articles, we need more people sharing their forays into crypto.
RE: Brief Guide to Buying Bitcoin - Advice from a Long Time Buyer