Echo what the others said.
When I use dry yeast, I generally dehydrate, just so that it gets fermentation going faster.
I used buckets when first starting out as well, heck, used to with the canned kits, not even use the cover, and just take a garbage bag and put it over the mouth of the bucket, just some packing tape or duct tape on it around the edge of the bucket (but not on the bucket), to hold it on, and leave it for 5-7 days.
Did it make for particularly good beer? Nope, but drinkable. Would I do that now? Not a chance.
Leave your cover on for 5-7 days, some strains probably won't need that, but good rule of thumb, then check it, if it still has a thick krausen, leave it for another day or 2.
The plastic carboys are fairly cheap these days (although I think the glass ones are about the same price maybe), and an airlock, this way you can see what is going on.