Srsly, blow the budget.
The barrel on a .22lr will last in excess of 100,000 rounds, if you don't screw it up.
Your grand kids will still be enjoying the best accuracy the barrel has to offer.
In 30 years you'll still have the gun. The initial cost of the gun, even spending $1500 will be dwarfed by what you spent on ammo.
Sure you could spend less; but it's your money, and if you don't spend it on this will you be buying anything else that will provide a lifetime (several lifetimes) of enjoyment?
And in some distant future, when you are taking your kids out to the range, or your niece out to the range, or whomever, and you are plinking at a little gong at 200m, is a cheaper gun going to do it for you?
Evaluate your choices carefully, then jump. When you're 50, you'll never remember spending the money, you'll remember the the joy of owning it.