That is perfect! I'm not claiming it but I'm going to reclaim it lol

As Alex said, you can get a deal on eBay but you just need to watch where you buy it from. Your best bet is to go through Adorama or B&H. You can find the kits there (body, lens, lens cleaner, etc) for fairly cheap. They've got new and refurb'd units with warranties so you can't go wrong. Buying for someone on eBay, you're unlikely to get a warranty if something goes wrong.

Whether you go Nikon or Canon, it's all preference to you. Go to Ritz, Best Buy or North Tampa Photo and play with both. See which one feels better in your hands. Even though I'm a "girl" the Nikon's feel smaller in my hands, while the Canon Rebel line felt a little beefer. Again, it's all preference.

Good luck! And welcome to the world of digital