Hi rhymeguy,
I’m new on this forum, and don’t have the knowledge and experience of all these fine people who have taken time to give you great advice.
…but recently I had to start, just like you, wanting to buy something good on a budget. So I have learned a great deal from my experience.
My first mistake was buying cheap batteries…Don’t! - for a few dollars more I could have bought a well known brand.
I agree with some of the others who have said don’t go for a rechargeable flashlight because you are limiting your options.
I bought my first charger secondhand at less than a quarter of the price and it had hardly been used. Works very well.
If your overall budget is $45 including batteries, I would buy a LiitoKala 202 charger or similar, as Lightbringer advised, currently $7.99 at Banggood.
Batteries like Samsung 30Q - currently $11.59 at Banggood (for 2). (You can actually get 4 for $18.69 using coupon code on this forum.)
That leaves you with about $25 for the flashlight.
I first bought a Convoy C8 and they currently start at $15.99 on Banggood. (various prices for different options)
There is a general coupon code “4BLF” which will take another 9% off flashlights as well.
I liked the Convoy so much that I bought a second one. It suits me for taking dogs for walks at night and finding them in the bushes and trees.
If you don’t want the Convoy, the $25 will be very close to getting you one of the other flashlights recommended on this post.
You might just need to spend a few dollars more.
Look at some of the posts on this forum with discount coupons, flash sales etc. including M4D M4X’s website.
Be prepared with batteries and charger, because once you become a flashlight junkie, you’re going to need them!