Or you can get started real soon, pick up your tank and decor, get your fishless cycle started, and give yourself the 10-20 days it will take to "complete" the "plumbing" in your fish's home by fishlessly cycling with some ammonia. WHILE you pick out your fish, etc.
I'd browse the fish profiles of some sites, and look at other people's tank galleries, till you find something that really grabs you.
I know most people say always go big, get the largest tank you can afford... do that, but get the largest tank you can handle and maintain. I'm not a 55g person. But I love my 12g! Course the bigger you go, the easier water stability. But in disaster situations, (cracks, leaks) and in general maintenance, it's a lot harder to vac a big tank then one that fits in your bathtub. Probably the best overall size is a 29g. Gives you a lot of good fish options, it's large enough to maintain easily, beautiful amount of viewing space.
If you've never had fish before, I wouldn't go for the tough ones, the very aggressive or very large fish. And you might consider staying clear of problem fish (and I count neons in this group! *lol*)
Things to consider... most times you want at least ONE fat bodied fish, and a small group of smaller fish, that shoal or move together as one. And some bottom dwellers. Either that, or you can go with a few Puffer setups (though they can be difficult to feed), or one real large school of something.
Fast moving fish are danios (they can make you annoyed like the did me, but I'm a laid back person.) Their cousins White Cloud Minnows are a great middle ground fish... beautiful color, hardy fish, handle temperatures great, and school, and are moderately active. Other schooling fish like rasboras are good (but can be sensitive), or depending on the level of aggression, you could look at barbs.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with a smaller size tank and a beautiful Betta with some shrimp or frogs, if you want to go simple.