I could use some advice on picking out a new camera?

I'm going to ask for a camera for Christmas, but my parents aren't made out of money (Who's parents are, really?) so the camera can't cost a fortune. I'm somewhat of a noob to photography, but I'm a stickler for details also. So the camera I use now doesn't really cut it for me. I don't claim to be a great photographer but I honestly think my cheap camera is holding me back and making things more difficult than they need to be. So basically what I want is a camera above the easy to use point-and-shoot kind of thing. The camera should be pretty all purpose, and it HAS to be digital. I would use it mostly to take macro and portrait shots, so I guess I'll buy special lenses later on. But all I'm asking you guys is for any suggestions. I thought the Nikon D40 would suit me pretty well but it's a bit out of my parents' price range. If you have any recommendations whatsoever, please share them with me. And also, if you could find a website that's selling a nice camera for a really cheap price (the camera doesn't have to be brand new as long as it works fine) then I would appreciate it immensely if you included a link to that too.

I just purchased a Pentax Kx and so far so good. What attracted me was that this camera will take all of the Pentax lenses made, including those made for film cameras. This is because the stabilization feature is in the camera and does not have to be in each lens. And this camera was a shade under $500.00!

http://www.amazon.com/...zon.com/s/

If this does not work just enter in the search line: Pentax Kx digital camera

Your in luck there are literally hundreds of amazing cameras out ther under 400 bucks. If your not antisipating needing a huge telophoto lense most of the cameras in this range would be good for you. Don't get hung up on the bells and whistles.buy one that will allow you to macro in on flowers and has the biggest optical magnification you can get. In cameras of this range you are more times than not better off to zoom and crop with your pc as opposed to the limited digital magnification you get in these cameras. Once you get to the end of the optical range you are only blowing up the image the lens is seeing so quality goes down from that point.