Seeking Private Website Software Guidance

I need to create a private website for a group of guys to openly discuss stocks, ideas, plans, strategies, etc as well as share text, links, images, video, etc in our own closed forum.

We don't have big bucks to spend so fancy colaboration SW or cloud services are out. Doesn't need to be pretty, just functional.

I have plenty of bandwidth, so I would like to host it at my home on a dedicated host I can leave up all the time.

Would like to have some decent access security to have a little privacy for our ideas and discussions about money without having some bot scanning our underwear sharing everything with who knows who.

QUESTIONS:

Is there a SW package out there that can be deployed by a person of "minor" geek (but willing to learn) capability in a couple days to accomplish this? If so, what are they?

Any and all suggestions about ideas, systems, guidance, alternatives are most welcome. No sacred cows here, just need the best advice I can get.

Best regards,
Bruce

 

I have used NetObjects Fusion and Website X5. But, that was more than 10 years ago.
Look at NetObjects Fusion Essentials - it's free.
http://netobjects.com/html/free-website-design-software.html

You should also consider Tumblr which might be just what you're looking for.
Click the white circles to the left to get an idea.
https://www.tumblr.com/