You seem hesitant to do the 'big' jobs yourself. I'd encourage you to consider doing some things yourself. Often you can save lots of money and just have fun by doing the part of a job that doesn't take a specialist, then taking parts to the pro, then putting them back into the car yourself. Examples are things like removing the transmission and flywheel and taking the flywheel to get resurfaced. Or even an engine is not too hard if you spend a couple hundred (or less on budget) for a hoist.

However, if you find the jobs boring to do yourself, might as well spend the money if you got it.

Have fun,
Nathan