Hi I want to use my own menu, but im finding it quite difficult to use the menu manager. Is there any tutorials for this sort of thing?
try this http://help.joomla.org/content/category/16/152/223/ this is other solution and the most effective I think you can use a localserver for test board like jsas http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions/tools/standalone-servers/5282
The Joomla tutorials will tell you about using the Menu Class Suffix. If you want a modern menu, you will need to learn about it. That is before you actually get to drop-down menus. Some call drop-down menus "suckerfish" menus. Good luck ! Go here : LINK
keep in mind that menus and modules that contain the menus is different things in joomla. If you create a menu from menu manager you need also to enable its module from module manager. Menus in joomla is just sets of links. To show them in your site you need modules.
Someone above mentioned the "localserver" option. Use this to test out your menus and the rest of your Joomla work. It can be used with Wordpress also. Download it at "Apache Friends". It is free, but consider giving a donation. It is very useful. LINK You do not need the internet after you download it to practice your Joomla.