Hi bigmummy3,
I would recommend a couple of things to get to help you on your way.
1, The only expensive piece of kit I would fork out for is a heart rate monitor, polar do a good range that let you enter you weight, hight, age and sex so that you get a good idea of how many calories you are burning.
Which is brilliant when you are half way through your workout and feel like packing it in, looking at the watch and seeing you have burned X number of calories helps to keep you going.
It will also help you to work out in your "fat burning" zone
2, I think they are called dyna bands, they look like wide, long elastic bands, they come in different colours for the different strenths and you can do all the same weight style exercises you would with normal weights, but they take up a fraction of the room, and if you drop one of these on you toe it wont hurt
3, You have probaly heard this all before, but I would recommend walking, building up to a slow jog and then possible even on to a run.
Walking, jogging and running are free and get you outside, also running is the best form of free fat burning exercise you can do, and it works all you majour muscle groups.
Sorry I may have written a bit much here, if you want to have a chat or have any more questions please feel free to ask.
I really hope this helps?
P.S in case anyone was wondering I am a qualified Gym Instructor