Since you've only been playing for five months and are unlikely to be gigging anytime soon heres a few things I would look for in your first amp:
Max 30 Watts
2-3 channels
some built in effects - chorus,flanger,delay etc.
Heres some I have played:
Line6 Spider II or (Flextone 3 if you got the extra cash)
Marshhall AVT30/50
VOX Valvtronix
My Band: http://www.myspace.com/thelanterns2010
playing whilst drunk is only permitted if all band members are in a similar state!
Alternative amp suggestion: Behringer V-Amp.
This allows you to pretend to have all sorts of different amps and has a plesantly "live" sound via headphones. It also gives you a number of usable effects.
I have one, plugged directly into my mixer/PC, I don't miss my old Marshall valve amps it replaced. (The family & neighbours are happier too.)
