You can always get an LCD and use it in 4 bit mode but that takes seven pins and a lot of wiring to move from circuit to circuit.
I just ordered a serial LCD controller that uses USART to send the text to be displayed. eg. if "Hello" is sent then "Hello" will appear at the current cursor position. Here is a link to the eBay store I ordered the LCD from. I will post how it works when I receive it.
