When I start with something new (cooking, biking, exercising...) I follow the rule to buy something cheap, to see for how long it will keep me preoccupied. When I started to spend some time cooking, I was cooked for over a year in cheap cookware. And, since I still liked it I start buying more expensive, semi-pro cookware, like All-Clad, Griswold, Le Creuset...when started exercising at home I bought $100 Treadmill - and still have it with tons of cobs all over it. When started biking I bought old, cheap, small S40. I fall in love with biking and bought ST1100. I met several people the thought they like riding a motorcycle, they bought new or almost new, expensive bikes - and now selling after only several hundreds miles of riding.
Same idea with the tent. Bought cheap one, Coleman, similar to the one from Walmart. Spent only one night in it and wasn't bad at all. And to point one thing: I bought the tent in WalMart because I forgot my at home. Better WalMart then sleeping on bench! I returned the tents and now plan to buy something better, something that should last at least one year. And spend the difference of $60-$80 bucks for floor ground, better stakes, hi-viz rope, camping towels, better gas stove, etc. And, if I still use the tent after year or two I'll invest in something better.
Afan....you can save a lot of money on some of those items you mentioned.....stakes...Gutter spikes put a 90 on one end.....rope...lots of places have bright colored ropes....ground cloth....TyVac, I once used an old shower curtain, worked great... cheap tarp cut down to size...don't make it larger than floor. If it sticks out past floor water will get between it and floor...towels...take old ones from home. Pick up a cheap hammer too.
The point is, try not to get talked into buying items from a store that you can make or get cheaper at some other place...rummage sales are a great place to pick up stuff for camping at a really cheap price.
When packing up bike, I always weigh everything and place in or on bike in a balanced way. I also make a planograph of where I put things so when it's time to repack it all up, it goes back the same way.
Over time you'll get the hang of it and figure out what you need and don't need/use. It just takes time, but you'll have a blast hanging out with this group of misfits, in the meantime.
John/Sourkraut