noob to 3d for Unreal

I'd like some opinions: I map for UT 2K4 and plan to do so for U3 strictly for fun. I can't afford more than $75 for a 3d modeling program. What do you recommend as the least painful program to learn/ obtain for making static meshes and very limited animations specificly for UT? Right now I'm going through the great tutorials for maya 8.5 PLE, but I've heard exporting from ple to UT is impossible as there is no aciveX exporter for ple. I use GIMP for 2d.