Welcome baysum!
Tip #1, practice every day.
Tip #2, go slowly; I mean really, stupidly slowly, and watch your hands to make sure you're placing your fingers properly.
Tip #3, if you find your fingers muffling strings (and you will), wiggle them to get the strings sounding--don't try to just muscle through it by pressing harder.
Tip #4, USE A METRONOME. If you are human, your timing sucks. Use a metronome religiously to help keep time, and tap your foot too.
Tip #5, record yourself. Get a cheap recorder of some sort, and record a practice session every week. Go back in a few months and listen to them, you'll be amazed at how far you've come.
Good luck, stick with it, and don't get discouraged.
"There's such a fine line between genius and stupidity."
--David St. Hubbins