just starting only played this awhile ago for not too long, looking for info on how I should start what best and cheapest build I will be able to work on

Hammerdin with shako.

If this is for single player, play what you enjoy. Any class is viable.

If this is for battle.net, don't waste your time. Bnet is lame and is easy. Quit and switch to single player.

I tried Open but no one is playing there

That's because all open is, is loaders. Go to menu:

Hit "Single Player"
Hit "Create New Character" if it doesn't do it for you
Select your character and name it.
Check the "Hardcore" box, hit Enter.
Type "/players8" in game and proceed to play the game.

Much more fun imo.

But why just play single player? I would eventually like to play with other people, I get that single player is easier but i'm not worried about easy.

On the contrary, single player is actually much more difficult. You’re playing alone & only with what you yourself find in the game. There’s no trading or anything. Plus playing on SP allows you to change it where the game thinks there’s 8 people in the game, so although the game itself becomes much more difficult, you can find better gear

First char being hardcore on p8 would be funny to see xD
Just play regular single player softcore with any char you find fun!

I almost see a challenge extended here...almost

Even players who know what they are doing die sometimes. Without you knowing anything about the game like builds and equip to farm it would be very hard indeed!