Re: I'd like some cheap Acoustic PA suggestions
I was cruising thru my latest Carvin catalog, and you could get an X1000 package with a pair of speakers, mics and cables for less than a grand. Musician's Friend has similar systems and packages from Yamaha, Peavey and Mackie. And a pair of speaker stands and you're ready to gig. For many coffee house gigs, you might need only one speaker. If you start doing full band gigs, you may eventually want to add monitors and subs.
And frankly, the value offered in a system like this is pretty amazing. When I was starting out, I bought a new Shure Vocal Master rig, and that system paid my rent for a couple of decades. These newer systems cost about the same, are much smaller and lighter, are more modular and expandable, have monitor sends, feature better EQ AND...a host of digital efx. And oh yeah, about 6 to 8 times the power with less distortion and better specs.
And while I really like some of the acoustic guitar amps with a Mic input boxes, they really aren't expandable and modular. You really want something that can grow with you. I understand wanting to keep things within a budget, but makes no sense to be buying "penny wise and pound foolish" and have to buy a new system in a couple of years. You can do it with a mixer-amp, a non-powered mixer and power speakers, or go completely with separates. Lots of ways to get it done, each way has its advantages.
You'll need to budget for all the accessories you'll need too. Not just mics, but a variety of extension cables, stands, extra mic and speaker cables for backup, stage tape, and something to carry it all in. You wouldn't believe all the junk I take to a gig, but experience has made me a firm believer in Murphy's Law.
Bill