Highly recommend checking the local used market - you can pick up a great bargain on a nice old Denon or Thorens direct drive turntable and cartridge in good condition. Otherwise Rega would be my recommendation.
Vinyl and LPs - Analogue Music Goodness
A community discussing turntables, vinyl and the art of listening to high-fidelity music on spinning platters.
This! And for that price OP can get a beasty technics as well.
Good thought. Seems there's a used electronics store right nearby that I can take a look at. Maybe they have a great deal.
A quick check of Craigslist didn't yield much, though I'm guessing most people don't use that as much as Facebook marketplace.
Assuming you have receiver with phono input and speakers already... Audio Technica AT-LP120x is great. You can pick up an Ortaphone Red cartridge for fantastic upgrade, or just spend the rest on records.
I have a pro-ject turntable that I absolutely love but it might brake your budget. Remember to account and consider that you will probably need a RIAA preamp on many of the good turntables