What you're talking about is entirely possible. When I first decided to start wearing a rug, I went with a small "strip" that filled in some of my temple recession and gave me a lower, straighter hairline. It was a good improvement, and a nice way to learn the ropes of hairpieces without having to shave my head. I later switched to a full piece, since I had extensive loss (covered back then with Prothik) and wanted to switch to a style that the Prothik wouldn't allow.
Hairpieces aren't for everyone, but they can be a blessing for the right person.
As for price, I'm a student as well. I order online for pretty cheap. My pieces are a bit pricier than most, since I order 17" hair (instead of the 4-6 inches that comes at the regular price), but I still only pay 250-300 for the most modern bases, with high-quality human hair at that length. I think I payed some where around 200 per piece when it was just a hairline strip.