Tight knit.

[sourmix.livejournal.com]

I just started knitting and am encountering some problems. I think that I'm casting on too tight as my loops are almost unmanagable, but that seems easy enough to fix. However, I also seem to be adding on stitches as I go...I started with 30 and now have 45 having only knitted about an inch. Is this a common problem? What am I doing wrong. I'm just going to start over, but what should I do different next time?