Too much Information for me to ingest

So, I am wanting to buy a flash. I have a Canon Rebel XS, want a functional flash. I don't do any professional shooting. And of course I desire not to spend big bucks.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

second hand mate....i got a second hand 550EX for £65...if you want new then 430EX

Yes flash can seem overwhelming at times, I bought a 430EX and have not regretted it one bit. You won't regret it, it will help you get pic's you never could before. I still don't understand the flash that well and I'm still able to get some good results, they are very user friendly now, unlike the old ones of the past. Give it a try you won't regret it.

I would suggest the 430EX also. It's a solid unit that will let you shoot ETTL as well as manual mode - and both can be very handy.

Something I found very useful when choosing what to buy was the B&H web site. Choose your camera and then scroll down to all of the accessories which will work with it. It's easy to compare items that way too.