Since you're going the PHP route, you should have a look at http://phpfog.com for hosting. They offer 6 months free hosting. You'll also get exposure to source control via Git and scaling which they assist you with.
From the FAQ (not sure if you can access it without being logged in though):
"Will you offer a free version of hosting?
Yes. You get one free application with one instance for 6 months. If you have one app that is using the free instance, you can delete it and you'll be able to create another free one to replace it."