With those constraints in mind, one of the best options available right now are the military surplus CZ-82 and CZ-83 pistols. Chambered in 9mm Makarov and .380 ACP respectively, these two pistols offer a nice balance of ammo capacity, size, and shootability, and I personally would trust my life to a well-functioning sample of either model over most of the budget-priced new carry guns on the market.
It may not be “fair”, but the unfortunate truth is that folks who are struggling financially are statistically more likely to be the victim of violent crime than middle-class suburbanites. So is it possible for someone whose already scraping to get by to find an affordable concealed carry piece for self-defense?
Over the past century virtually all major firearms manufacturers from countries all over the world have produced handguns chambered in .32 ACP. Czechoslovakia, the birthplace of the CZ-83, is no longer with us, but the CZ-83 is still dependable 30 years after its introduction