Getting XRP - the initial 300 for ripple.com, and then getting more

[pb321go]

Hi
I've just joined up and have to say that not only am I a complete newbie to crypto-currencies, but also to forums. I've opened accounts with mtgox, btc-e, and ripple.com. Really I'd like to get started with owning some XRP. Any suggestions as how to do this? Ripple.com say I have to have 300 before I can buy/sell, but there seems no way at the moment to get that initial 300. Also, how do, or will, people go about cashing in their XRP (and Bitcoins and Litecoins) for, say, USD when they want to?
Many thanks for any help.
pb321go

[bitcoinbrett]

I have found the best way to cash out your bitcoins and litecoins is to set up an OK pay account or a dwolla, sell you coins on mtgox and transfer the money to your account to then transfer to your bank. If you have litecoins exchange them to btc and then do the above. You could also use sites like localbitcoins.com and try to sell you bitcoins for straight cash.
Still learning myself but that's the best that I have figured out. Goodluck man!