Trainer recommendations and budget

[Owlie]

If at all possible, try them out.
The Kurt Kinetic and the Cycleops Fluid trainers are really nice, but quite spendy unless you get a deal on them. If you want a fluid trainer, though, you'll have to go for something nicer than the entry-level ones, because those aren't as smooth a ride. If that's all your budget will allow, get a nice magnetic trainer instead. There are some good ones out there that are less than $200. I've got a Minoura that I quite like, and there are some other ones out there that I've found through work that I like.

As for bike damage, unlikely. I've heard about some issues with bikes with carbon rear triangles but aluminum front triangles, but those aren't terribly common and I imagine would result from far more use of a trainer than most of us care to do. The only issue really is the rear tire. If you've got a good tires, take the rear off and put on a cheap tire or a trainer tire. (If you have old ones that are no longer road-worthy lying around, even better!) If you're going to be replacing your tires in spring anyway, go ahead and use them up. If you're planning on going outside when possible, I would stay away from the trainer tire unless you have a spare wheel, because those things are a pain to mount.