I need a new laptop...when did they get so expensive ? I

I got an hp years ago, it was like 300$ and it was like top of hp line, more than what i even needed... i just need one so i can write and stream tv and movies. I always get them from Costco! You would think with school about to start back up, i could get a new one pretty cheap but no luck. I hate how expensive everything is getting, or maybe now that im a mom of 3, spending 500$ on myself is something that I am struggling to bring myself to dom