Techy types - what is best (and cheapest) for making a basic website?

[oysterpots]

Was thinking about Typepad but for what we'd want (the Pro account) it would cost $150 a year.

Is there anything that does the same but is cheaper and/or free?

Or any other way of doing the same but not having to spend lots on web design and build?

Please help a luddite in need

Bumping for you.

The technically correct, but entirely useless answer is that you can make yourself a (very) website using MS Notepad.

I'm sure someone will be along with a more useful answer shortly. Think of this as a deeply pedantic bump...

should say basic website...