craftgrrl | Text-Only Post...Sorry!

I am making a purse and when it comes to a closure, I want to put in a zipper. However, I don't have a zipper foot for my/my mom's sewing machine, and I can't go out and buy one because the store that carried the brand of machine is closed, and its not a common machine in this city, plus, I am going out of town tomorrow, so...

Could anyone give me a site or a tutorial on how to insert a zipper? I have a fairly good idea on how to sew the sides in, however, it is the end of the zipper that is puzzling me. Do I just cut a slice down the middle of the material and sew in the zipper? I'm really confused!