A club is worth 10 times the price of dues for new flyers, for the reason just given. An instructor will show you how to fly correctly the first time, saving you the trouble of repairing and replacing equipment. As for parts, have you checked with the vendor you bought the airplane from?

For good beginner airplanes, check the sticky about trainers at the top of the beginner's forum. Cubs aren't bad because they are slow, but there are planes that are significantly easier to fly and more forgiving.