There is no substitute for Poser.  Especially with Poser 5 having been given away a couple weeks ago, and it's now low low price of $20. pefect for anyone new to 3D!   You really ca'nt pay for anything better, as there is'nt another application like it, and it already has a huge  learning curve!

Alot depends on how much time a day you'd like to spend.  The other is how wisely you spend your money, on tools to then learn what it takes to use them.  I doubt you'll be moderately aquianted with the application within a month, or even a season, more like years of experience.  But it's easy to say that would be more for any other application.