I'm glad you're enjoying our hobby so much!
Based on what you've given us, I agree that you're likely smoking too hot (which usually means you're smoking too fast). Also, a briar pipe will be considerably tougher than the wood you have right now. Alternatively, a corn cob or meerschaum pipe would work. I don't think the pipe is necessarily ruined, but I would give it a rest and try not to smoke it on a regular basis in the future.
Also, what tobacco are you smoking? Some blends smoke far hotter than others. And how often do you smoke?
There are hundreds of online guides to pipe smoking, buying pipes, maintaining pipes, etc. Plus, this forum is a great resource for information of all kinds. I understand that you don't necessarily want to spend a lot of money, but if you plan on taking up pipe smoking it's essential that you have at least a small rotation of pipes. They don't all have to be expensive briars, as cobs are dirt cheap and have remarkable smoking properties (far better than the ash you are smoking).