If you already have pickit 3, a breadboard, and mplabx installed, then for just $3.50 you can experiment with the pic32mx220.
There is a very good tutorial at University Mass. Amherst that is written for total beginners. It steps you through everything.
http://umassamherstm5.org/tech-tutorial ... -tutorials
Next time you order some parts, throw in a DIP pic32mx220 and give it a try.
The tutorial is using C32, but you should not have trouble using the XC32.