Hey! I totally get the struggle of trying to find a way to play Minecraft without breaking the bank. Been there myself. If you're open to it, check out Eaglercraft, It worked wonders for me, and now I'm enjoying the game without any extra expenses.

Website offers a free Minecraft game you can play on the browser called Eaglercraft. Just hop on and play. Seems pretty straightforward.

The service offers a reliable connection, which is crucial. The community is friendly, and from what I've experienced, no worries about viruses. I've been playing for a month now, everything's smooth. Best of luck, hope it works out for you too!