I have indeed now ordered a Squier Tele - even including some decent strings and a proper setup it’s still just under £200, which is the amount I could have spared for the V’s repairs.
Iconic Gibson. Ergonomically useless, but cool as a polar bear with refrigerated underwear. As it apparently needs so much work and your proposed usage level, it might be worth moving it on, investing in a Tele and using the leftover £s for whatever (I’m sure there’d be a surplus).