> I've wanted a ColorChecker as a nice-to-have for a while, but real ones are kind of expensive (understandably so) for me.
Everyone has their own budget (esp. for hobbies), but if you're into photography, a USD 100-120 'accessory' does not seem "expensive":
* https://calibrite.com/us/product/colorchecker-classic/
* https://calibrite.com/us/product/colorchecker-passport-photo...
How much would a new (or new-to-you/used) camera body cost? Or a lens? Given that it would last probably over a decade, that's a pretty low annual amortization cost. Perhaps ask for it as a birthday or Christmas present?
Though it may depend on your subject matter: probably less of a need for it if you do landscape or street photography, as compared to portraits or products.
Some of the monitor calibration devices can get more pricey if you want to go down the colour calibration rabbit hole: