first you must have BTC and ETH, because many exchanges use both in trading and you must enter the stock exchange and observe alcoin movement is very high up and the tour so you can determine when you will buy and when will sell

For that you have to buy bitcoin first then you can change it through Bittrex exchange. Bittrex exchange is very safe and it provides two factor authentication to avoid fraudulence.

EtherDelta is the simplest hardest exchange and not user friendly for begginers. the best way best way to buy altcoins are from sites like bitrex, yobit, poloniex,hitbtc.  being a first timer in trading does not need any experience because its still your first time right?  but only trade amounts that you can afford to loose or start only on smaller amounts and practice it through trial and error. also read some guides and strategies online whether on forum or some social medias like youtube to gain more experience as you progress.

If you have a plan to buy a altcoin means, you can choose of any reputed Altcoin to avoid loss.Some reputed altcoin are ETH, Waves, Lite coin. But bitcoin is always better than a altcoin to make your life savings.You was very hard to make that saving so don't lose it buy choosing wrong and unreputed  altcoin.

if you want to try trading then start with a small capital first, do not jump with big capital because if still learning process or new when failed trading will not experience big loss. start with a small capital first, that's the most important.

https://www.coinexchange.io/register/?r=69adea7b


 the above exchange is the easiest option. worth trying.

You can buy coin in bittrex in poloniex and others. buy at a low price when the price is high, follow the news about the coin, because the news is also up and down the price

These are the most reliable ways of buying coins. I trade these exchanges and can buy coins at any time. I'm sure that my money will not be lost

I think for a beginner like you it is much better for you to start with Coinexchange, Yobit, or Cryptopia because as far as I know these are the  exchange platform that are not asking any documents for you to upgrade your account.

which altcoins are you interested in?