If you intend to create a few websites (usually you will end up more than 1 website), go for multiple web hosting where you could handle your websites in one account. I suggest Check following webhosting , they are quite good. Cheap Webhosting Review
They're no cheaper than many others and their shared servers are a bit slow. (Try connecting to some sites they host - other than their own, which seem to be on faster servers.)
I read an article and they recommended hostgator and explains that they have other programs to help you build your website. I have not tried it yet but have considered it because I'm new and this seems to have everything there to help get me started. Do these other sites offer other programs/services and a cheaper price or is that why hostgator is not 'cheap' like some have said?
$3.96/month right now - that's not expensive. Even their normal price is under $5/month. (I'm not recommending them [or recommending against them], just commenting on your post.)