This is the software so many web designers use. It is easy to handle and easy to understand. If you can't afford more than $400, than start with this software and you will have a great start to doing web design.

Most of the time you can just click here, write some words, click here and you are done. You may want to tweak code if you know how to do html, php, or css code. But if you are not familiar with code, don't worry... it's easy to use.

After buying Dreamweaver by Adobe, this would be the second thing to buy for doing web design.

This is a very easy to use graphics program. I actually learned how too use this without reading any tutorials because it was so easy.

Consider getting Photoshop by Adobe only if you may be doing graphic design (like business cards, posters, and print)

When people think of animation on the Internet, they don't realize it but they are thinking of Flash. Practically everything that moves on the Internet these days is Flash.

Flash is not as easy to use as Dreamweaver or Fireworks. So if you don't think you want to use code at all, reconsider this one. That is for all the lazy people out there. Everyone else, know this.... there are tons of tutorials with free code and the timeline to use Flash is similar to any video or animation timeline. It's fun.

When it comes to web design, you may not need this. But if you do any print graphics like business cards, promotional printing, post cards, and more... you need photoshop. This is what they call the "industry standard in print software." It is hard to find anyone in print who does not have this.

But if your budget is limited, you can have a complete web design package by getting Dreamweaver and Fireworks.