Electronic tuners are dirt cheap - some sets of strings cost more. Get one or regret it. :-)

Classical guitar is slightly harder to play as the fretboard is wider, so some chords are more difficult, but the theory is that this encourages good habits. The nylon strings are less painful than steel strings on the fingertips (although you'll still get plenty of pain even with nylon strings to start with). Or you could use a steel-string guitar with a set of very light electric-guitar strings though (say, a set with 0.008 top string) and work up to heavier strings as your fingers get tougher and stronger.

Graham.