Miss Cleo, if you just want the fun of seeing your work in print, you can publish for free with Blurb.com and they will put your book in their online bookshop. You only need to personally order one copy. You can also choose to offer it as a ebook.
They are a what Lora would say is a book printer. You prepare the book yourself and it has no IBN number. They give you free software to use.
I've found that it helps to order some copies to have on hand and sell them through local groups and clubs.
With the actual publishers I have used, I didn't have to put down any money. Bluegrass and Comfort Publishing did the editing, purchased the art for the cover and promoted it. I did have the fun of going to book signings, etc., if I was available.
Using a service like Blurb (There is a coupon usually on the side bar for 15% off) can help you to organize and see what you want to include, how to set it up, etc., My pet book later became an ebook with Comfort Publishing so it didn't keep me from getting an actual publisher.
Hugs