How do I get started with the stock market?

I’m interested in getting started with the stock market. I’m interested in many aspects of stocks. I’m wanting to get into mutual funds as well as individual stocks. I asked up here before for advice on investments. thanks to those who answered. and thanks early for any advice on this thread. I think have a Very basic understanding on stocks. please correct me if im misunderstanding anything because I’m truly new to investing. I understand that you purchase them for their current stock market price and depending on how the market does, determines how much they are worth when you sell them. I guess one of my main problems with the stock market is that I’d be buying something that i cant hold in my hand and say “hey I own this”. can anyone help me to understand how stocks and ownership works? lets say I find a stock I’m interested in and it costs . say $10 per share of xyz stock.. lets also say i have $100 to spend. that means I can purchase 10 shares correct? what do I need to do to start up an account online? A fluther user in my lst question advised to use scottrade and said it had a $500 minimum and that other investment firms would require $1500—$2500. so does this mean that to start out with the stock market I’d need $500 or more just to start purchasing stocks? Is there another way to get started? I guess to start off I’d have around $200–300. Im currently saving money to get started. I’m still trying to read as much as I can but investing in stocks is something I’ve never done before and want to know what to expect before I get started. Also once I actually find a site to join and purchase my first stock, what happens next? back to earlier example, say I am able to purchase the 10 shares of xyz stock, do i receive anything or not? and also what about selling the shares? lets say I held onto them for 2 years and the price moved to $50 per share, making my ownership total of xyz worth $500 and I wanted to sell them. What is this process like? what do I need to expect to do and happen? Also and advice on how mutual funds work and their prices is greatly appreciated also. I do however know that they put money into several different stocks to help the mutual fund as a whole. I thank you in advance for any help.