You are a new user so you will have a limit to the number of bids you can place on an auction item, so bid the highest amount you are happy to pay in one bid, to save those numbers.
Buying Buy it Now items with an immediate payment may be possible now , and will build up that good paying record eBay want to see so they increase that bidding limit.
Bids are different to offers. If there is a Make Offer on an item, you make one , and it is declined because it's too low, you can make 3 in total.
