You sound like me. Effort isn't a disadvantage for me... a thin wallet is. So, I MacGuyver alot of stuff. Some ideas work, some don't. The experience is priceless.
I had a bike in for repair with a broken shock on the rear triangle. Didn't think I could find a suitable replacement cheap (for the owner), so I fashioned a piece of aluminum square stock I had and installed it in place of the shock. Turned it into a rigid.
If money is tight, and you don't mind trying different things, I'd say go for the conversion.