Dead/dying clutch...?, Shift, hit the gas, watch the RPM's go up while the MPH CRAWLS... Options

[supaneko]

I've had this issue taking place for a little while now. When it began, I simply parked my little car in the driveway with hopes that the funding to get an easy repair would come along. But then my other Celica (a 1991) just died out on me and now I have to get one of them fixed... definitely has to be the stick.

I've noticed for a little while that when I would shift, any gear, after shifting I wasn't able to really hit the gas too hard. If I did, the RPM's would shoot up past 4k and very slowly the MPH would move. If I hit the gas pedal just right, the car would slowly accelerate and the RPM's would seem to travel in-sync with the MPH. Well, now it seems like that "just right" is just about gone and every time I shift or hit the gas pedal the engine screams because the car just isn't moving like it should.

I am not smelling any sort of burning or hearing any sort of grinding. The clutch pedal itself doesn't seem to be any different from the day when I first bought the car either.

What's going on? What needs to get fixed? Where do I take it?

[supaneko]

Yeah, with it being an ST I surely don't need any sort of special or performance clutch kit. Of course, when I finally obtain the funding to throw the turbo in... that's when I'll have to start askin' y'all about the performance clutch.

So, how hard would it be for someone who's a newb to tuning/fixin' cars to put in/swap out a bad clutch? What would I look for to purchase for the replacement (a kit, just the plate, just a disc, ???)? If I took it to a shop, would it be best to take it to a place that specializes in transmissions as opposed to a place that covers all parts of the car?

And finally... With $500-$800 in labor, what is the average price that I am looking at with parts and labor? $1000+??!?!?!?!