Start simple with few possessions and you'll find it easier to get your skills up. Leave the TV til later maybe but buy a good bed, bookcase, sofa, toilet and shower. You can use a microwave to start with as it might stop your Sims from frying themselves. They have a habit of going for the stove whilst you are not noticing and bursting into flames.
Download simple lots as unfurnished. Empty rooms can be filled later. An enclosed fenced lot with gate and locked as you want will deny vampires entering.
Play slowly and use the needs displayed until you get used to dealing with them. Clicking on them helps!
NB:
Good screenshots can be copied to a separate folder and used as constant or daily, changing PC screen backgrounds and this will remind you of happy times in your game or favourite houses..
