I use bitcoin too but not the wallet that Backpage recommends or any other online wallet... they take ages to set up and ask for all manner of personal information.
I use Electrum which is a simple download and installation on to my windows laptop. It doesn't ask for any personal details and is relatively simple to use.
Buying bitcoins is fairly simple. I live near Central London where there are plenty of ATMs. What you need when you go to the machine is cash and your wallet address which is a string of characters and numbers. The machine walks you through the process. If you don't have a bitcoin machine near you, buying bitcoins from friends is another option.
You need your wallet address to spend bitcoins too. Backpage will tell you the amount in "BTC" which is the bitcoin currency unit.
It's all a bit daunting at first but easy after you do it once.