user21326: I purchased $50 from ExpressCoins and now it's transferred to the address, but I hadn't realized that to use your program, I have to download 20 gigs of information.  Is there a way to access my coins without doing that and transfer them to the market in order to spend them?  I can't use the address at another wallet that doesn't do that?
A clear step-by-step would be a godsend at this point, and looking for threads and faqs to read has just confused me with more vague answers and piling on new programs and terms.  

user9382: You can certainly use Blockchain.info or 
GreenAddress.it to avoid running a full node. Blockchain.info has FAQs but WeUseCoins.com, Bitcoin Wiki or Bitcoin.org all have excellent FAQs. 
If you've sent your Bitcoin to the address associated with the core program (ie the software you're waiting for to download the Blockchain, aka Bitcoin-QT) it's more complicated to spend your BTC until it's synced.
Communities like BitcoinTalk.org and /r/Bitcoin are not always helpful with these basic questions so check the FAQs and you'll have a better idea. 

user14883: If you use an iPhone, give bread wallet a try, the Blockchain app is cool, too. On Android I'd probably use mycelium. 
All of those have nice and clean interfaces. Send some coins back and forth to get a feeling for it. 
It's better for the network to run a full node (=use a client that downloads the whole 20Gig blockchain) but you don't necessarily need to, to send and receive BTC. All the apps I mentioned before dont require you to download the blockchain.
Technically Blockchain (the company) is an online wallet, which means they hold and secure your private keys (= the keys that allow sending money) while with bread wallet and mycelium you hold the private keys.
Blockchain = the company
the blockchain = the public ledger of Bitcoin

21326: <p>I purchased $50 from ExpressCoins and now it's transferred to the address, but I hadn't realized that to use your program, I have to download 20 gigs of information.  Is there a way to access my coins without doing that and transfer them to the market in order to spend them?  I can't use the address at another wallet that doesn't do that?</p>

<p>A clear step-by-step would be a godsend at this point, and looking for threads and faqs to read has just confused me with more vague answers and piling on new programs and terms.  </p>
 9382: <p>You can certainly use <a href="http://Blockchain.info" rel="nofollow">Blockchain.info</a> or 
<a href="http://GreenAddress.it" rel="nofollow">GreenAddress.it</a> to avoid running a full node. Blockchain.info has FAQs but <a href="http://WeUseCoins.com" rel="nofollow">WeUseCoins.com</a>, <a href="http://bitcoin.it" rel="nofollow">Bitcoin Wiki</a> or <a href="http://bitcoin.org" rel="nofollow">Bitcoin.org</a> all have excellent FAQs. </p>

<p>If you've sent your Bitcoin to the address associated with the core program (ie the software you're waiting for to download the Blockchain, aka Bitcoin-QT) it's more complicated to spend your BTC until it's synced.</p>

<p>Communities like <a href="http://BitcoinTalk.org" rel="nofollow">BitcoinTalk.org</a> and <a href="http://reddit.com/r/bitcoin" rel="nofollow">/r/Bitcoin</a> are not always helpful with these basic questions so check the FAQs and you'll have a better idea. </p>
 14883: <p>If you use an iPhone, give <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/breadwallet-bitcoin-wallet/id885251393?mt=8" rel="nofollow">bread wallet</a> a try, the <a href="http://blockchain.com/" rel="nofollow">Blockchain</a> app is cool, too. On Android I'd probably use <a href="https://mycelium.com/products" rel="nofollow">mycelium</a>. </p>

<p>All of those have nice and clean interfaces. Send some coins back and forth to get a feeling for it. </p>

<p>It's better for the network to run a full node (=use a client that downloads the whole 20Gig blockchain) but you don't necessarily need to, to send and receive BTC. All the apps I mentioned before dont require you to download the blockchain.</p>

<p>Technically Blockchain (the company) is an online wallet, which means they hold and secure your private keys (= the keys that allow sending money) while with bread wallet and mycelium you hold the private keys.</p>

<p>Blockchain = the company</p>

<p>the blockchain = the public ledger of Bitcoin</p>
