I have the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 series (about $700) laptop. I got it simply because I wanted a cheaper laptop that still had enough power to play high-performance games (Gaming laptops usually run $1200+). I got the HDD version, and it does run a little slow as of the file system, but apps and games run great!
Getting an older mac is a really good idea. Keep in mind you can also purchase a laptop with a HDD, and later once you have more money upgrade to a SSD.