Great topic, here's mine!

Started out after doing a little (very little) research on a different site, by ordering quite a few cigars from CI, including a glasstop humidor and a herf-a-dor with some cigars included. I also ordered a cutter and a lighter and their black ice humidification media.

The cheap glass top humi from CI has actually served me well, I'm able to maintain about 62% RH (with boveda) in it so I keep my sticks I want to smoke soon and the few cubans I've gotten from BOTL's in passes.

The cutter was a Xikar X8, this is one place where my brief research paid off and I've been incredibly happy with this cutter.

The lighter was a triple flame vector with a punch. Another area I've actually been very happy with my selection. Granted this was shear luck because I didn't really pick it based on research.

The herf-a-dor has been great for bringing cigars out and about and I'm definitely happy about this pickup.

The cigar assortment I got I probably wouldn't do again. I would have read more reviews and gotten a little more targeted with my selection as opposed to getting low range samplers with a varied selection that I ended up with.

Since that initial startup purchase I've picked up a few more accessories and modified my setup a bit.
Due to the recommendations on here I picked up a V-Cutter, which hasn't surpassed my guillotine but I'm still experimenting with it.
I made the switch to Boveda for all of my humidification.
I purchased a large Tupperware container for bulk storage. Currently I'm storing 7 cedar trays and 4 boxes with some room to grow in it.
Finally I purchased a cheap ashtray on CI, which I'm pretty disappointed in because it isn't very unique.

My lessons have been:
  • Cheap humidors don't hold humidity as well
  • Buy the boveda calibration pack and use it for all your hygrometers
  • Use boveda for super easy humidity control
  • Use cigar bid to buy those initial accessories, I would have saved about $30 had I bought my lighter and cutter on there
  • start with a tupperdor
  • A quality cutter and lighter allows you two less things to worry about when you're starting out on cigars so you can pay attention to cutting and lighting well
  • For me don't go cheap on the ashtray, you'll end up disappointed. I'm finally working to get a wooden ashtray from our fine BOTL @Lynn and I know I'll be so much happier with that
  • Get involved in the online communities as they are incredibly and generous folks and we all love seeing new people take up the hobby!