His budget is limiting, I would try hard to get the existing player back to good health.
Has your friend tried one of these lens cleaner discs?
Lasers do get old/weak, not age, but has it done a heck of a lot of play time?
If he finds a used model like his, with little use, then he would have his old one for parts. Perhaps find one with missing remote for lower price even.
Is he handy enough to take the cover off, look twice, perhaps a can of compressed air, a speck of white lithium lubricant on the laser rails and the drawer mechanism.
Some models still have lens assembly kits, what specific model does he have?
New belts are usually available for the drawer mechanism.