Recommended Software for sprite animation cheap or free

Recommended Software for sprite animation cheap or free

First I would like to say a big hello to everyone, I dropped on this site by accident yesterday and I had to sign up straight away you lot are amazing.

Anyway my question is this,

I have designed a character on illustrator and I have broke it up for rigging so I can create some animated sprites. However the disappointing issue is that I cannot afford much at all currently. Can anyone recommend any program or programs which would be of use to me to do this which I can get for cheap or even free. I know I can search through Google and try program after program until I find the right one, but as for purchasing software I amnot able to buy and buy again until I find the right one. With the member of the forums already being great artists and animators I would like to hear your recommendations for this. Thank You very much.