Cheapest solution I know of is to throw a bunch of plywood panels on the ground. Everything else costs more money. Best solution is, in order of preference, concrete, asphalt, crushed rock. If you can't afford a concrete apron in front of the garage doors at this time, crushed rock will let you get in and out. Later, you can remove the rock and add the concrete.

We used a properly compacted gravel driveway for the first two years. They have to dig down and remove the topsoil, then build up layers of gravel and compact it. Ours worked fine, but we added a concrete apron to have a place to wash the car.

Factor in the cost of cleaning mud out of your house and garage in you cost analysis.

Thanks for your help! We decided to go ahead and lay the base of the driveway (crushed concrete) down and carry it to the garage. Not ideal, but will help us be able to get into the house without pouring the concrete apron in front of garage right away. Floors will be stained concrete so we can handle a little mess if it's not perfect!