I need a free blog site that will allow me to use my own custom domain and that will also allow sites like chitika and adsense...
Agree with you, mate! Free hostings or site constructors has some limits, which wouldn`t let you do what you want. Just buy hosting on DO for 5$ and use it as you need!
hmm now regarding self hosting, any concern for server bandwidth problem with limited cost? I get you need to have more control and the ability to add more scripts and even your own ads etc etc. One argument that I see favors wordpress.com is that you can easily login if you had an account but a private server you would have to sign up. But that may not be an issue if you install a disqus or facebook plugin.
Solid shared hosting really costs nothing. You can use WP which is the easiest to install. If your are really planning to make money with it - do you really need someone limiting the things you can do, or even taking you down for something that you did. It's simply not worth it.
Personally i spend also around $50 on a premium theme, some paid plugins, content, logo design etc. If you meant just hosting? Nothing. few bucks per month on some shared WP hosting. Bluehost for example.
You know one thing i like about wordpress.com is that there is always some stranger that will see it. I have a pretty low quality site where I update what I need to do everyday and now there are people actually following it.
I agree with what you said except this part above. I believe both blogger and wordpress.com have a way to export the files in XML, and they can be imported. I used these functions exclusively in the initial startup phases.
Why can't you spend a little on Blogger or WordPress. They will give you what you really want for your money if you work heard.
Best thing for a main blog site is a paid hosting solution, you have more freedom to change it and to monetize it, the sky is really the limit for plugins and other options with Wordpress on a paid host. If you want to make simple single page or only a few post type blogs to promote something then something like Blogger is fine, it allows you to put in your affiliate links and is open to adsense since it is Google. Like everything though you still have to get traffic to them, it won't simply fall in your lap.