Would anyone mind telling/suggesting to me what I should do first? I'm extremely inexperienced when it comes to these kinds of games. I would greatly appreciate any tips you guys have to offer!

When I first started, I did a TON of exploring. It takes a while, and it gets boring, but it's an effective way to get stuff. Check out the pound frequently; you can get a free pet every day. Also, you'll want to explore the forums quite a bit; you can find quite a few giveaway threads that can give you a boost on the things you need.

To get money, it's helpful to vote for the game on virtual pet lists, (found under your My account tab at the top), because you can get up to 1500 silver per day. Also check your Quests tab, because you can send your pets on quests and accumulate some money that way.

Other than that, it really depends on your goals for the game. 

I also recommend the Player Guides section of the fourms if you're curious about anything else.

I feel silly for even posting this because of how many helpful threads there are. Thank you for your response though! It is much appreciated(: