Receiver with no phono input: Solutions?

I listen to my records every day...on a really old POS turntable and I'm ready to upgrade. So, it's important that I get nice quaility sound...but I don't want to break the bank. As far as my budget I guess under a $1000.00 for my LP listening budget...whatever that's going to take, i.e. turntable, another amp?, cartridge.

I'm just really confused on how to tie this in to my receiver if I have no phono input. And the nearest HI FI place is about 3 hours away.

Should I run a completely differnt dedicated amp that powers the Turntable but then how does this line out to my speakers?

Sorry, I'm totally confused and I just moved to a small town and there's nobody here to go in and demo, research, talk to about this stuff.

The inputs; tape, aux1, aux2, etc. or however they are labeled on the back should be all the same as far as impedence. A phono preamp does only two things differently than these imputs-

RIAA curve correction which means it corrects for a very non flat frequency response that a cartridge produces from vinyl.
The phono preamp will also ampliflies the ever so tiny signal that the cartridge produces.

The end game is that an external phono amplifier may with RCA plugs go into your input of choice and work fine.

Any corrections to this by other members would be welcomed.

It is no more complicated than placing this phono stage "preamp" a device between your TT out put RCAs and the input into an aux on your reciever. That's all there is to it.
Again buy a phono preamp connect you tt output to the phono preamp's input the connect it's out put with a second set of interconnect RCAs to your reciever's aux input. When you want to play your TT switch your reciever to the aux input you chose play and enjoy.
As for improvements thats another matter.
You could decide to go with an entry level "High End" TT like a used Rega or Music Hall. Hopefully with a decent cartridge included probably a MM. Then use a well regarded phono stage (preamp) like a Graham Slee for instance, amongst many other choices. Use your reciever set up for now and see if that improvement satisifies you.
Unfortunately you are going to have to immerse yourself in basic modern day analaog to guide yourself more accurately. It is some work but you will get it after a while don't fret.

Make it easy on yourself! Here are some low-cost, decent sounding options: (http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=THTD170) (http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MFVLPS) Those will be a no-travel, no-risk deal as well: (http://www.audioadvisor.com/testimonials.asp) I'd recommend these(excellent for the cost) interconnects: (http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?cablintr&1296541165&/Kimber-Hero-1-Meter-Pair-WBT-0) OR, at least these: (http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?cablintr&1296535601&/Kimber-Kable-PBJ-1-meter-rca-m) Used turntables and cartridges are some of the higher-risk items, as far as audio is concerned(fragile/easily abused).

Thanks everyone for your responses...thats so much easier to understand than what I was reading and trying to figure out.

Thanks for the recommendations Rodman99999. Now I've got a great starting point within my budget.

It's so nice being able to share my frustrations and to get simple and easily understandable solutions.

Thanks again everyone!