Essentials for getting started

Getting a scale will give you great start,
another tip is to get a tape measure and some "current status" photos of yourself (don't rely on the scale alone for progress, as the scale will not always accurately reflect how good you are doing)
And - if you plan on becoming more active, consider a new pair of good shoes (especially if you are thinking about running/walking)

Good luck!

A food scale is a great idea

That's pretty much the only thing I've spent money on, besides a floor scale. Otherwise I've just used free resources (like this website and a few others), and a weight trending app is another great tool-if you have an android its Libra or Happy Scale for apple.