Looking for advice on finding the right medium.

I have wanted to grow and explore my own abilities for years, and am often told to find a mentor or join classes. Very recently I had a new acquaintance recommend trying their go-to person for readings, but their pricing is higher than I'd expected. Regardless of their specific costs my question is, what is the best advice for finding someone that I actually resonate with, without breaking the bank? Is there a way to test a connection without spending $50+ on a reading and potentially having to start all over? If I decide to go down this path I am hoping to find someone I can continue to work with, since I feel like I'm stuck in my current state of development. Thank you in advance for any insight and/or guidance!