580ex II alone or 430ex + accesories

Should I buy the 430ex + all the basic accessories (batteries, diffuser, flash cord, bracket) or just the 580ex II. But I can't afford the 580ex + accessories right now.

I'm a novice in almost every department, but i don't like the thought of upgrading later on. I rather get what i'm going to keep now.

I'll be taking mainly pictures at home of my niece and some parties/weddings; nothing serious, just for the fun of it.

any thoughts on what should give me a good start.

I would just start with the 430 and learn how to use it best through bouncing etc. Then, you can get a better idea of what accesories you might want for it.

Besides, the 430 is a great flash and can always be used if you decided to get a 580 later.

so my other question is at what point do you start wanting more power that the 580ex offers.

1) Store-bought "diffuser" products are unnecessary.
2) Batteries are necessary, regardless which flash you get.
3) Flash bracket and sync cord are sometimes quite valuable, but you don't need to buy them right away.
4) The power of the 580EX II gives you about 35% more effective distance at a given aperture and ISO. The reality of this is that you can use an ISO setting about 1 stop lower indoors. Outdoors it lets you shoot from a bit further away.

I have a 430ex and I have never found it lacking for power for any of the shooting that I've done. Recently I bounced it off the ceiling in a church I'm guessing the ceiling height was around 60-70ft high. The 430ex handled it with no problems at all. Like said if you start with the 430ex and get another flash later it can still be used in your setup.