Would it be possible to have your engine balanced cheaply by doing it partly yourself? I'm thinking about using a scale like one of these to properly weigh all of the reciprocating components and get a reasonable reciprocating weight for each piston assembly, and then having your crank balanced to match the goal reciprocating weight? Once the crank was back, you could "zero in" on the precise bob-weight needed for the crank balance with your scale and end up with a properly balanced assembly. Conversely, perhaps have the machine shop balance the crank and have them supply you the bob-weight used, and then select the pistons, rods, etc. to come close to that weight and then finish it out?
As an aside, I had a couple of friends a few years back who were into big block Mopars. They had a scale and when they did an engine, they would try to figure out what the original bob weight was (weighing new factory pistons and rods to come up with a base figure). They would then balance to that number, figuring the factory balance was close, and by matching the factory reciprocating weight, they could come close to a properly balanced engine. These guys had some fast cars and I don't remember them blowing too many engines. I am planning to do an "econo-rebuild" on an low mileage 8BA I have that sat inside in a wrecked car for 40 years before I got it, and has been in inside storage ever since. I think I am going to approach my balance job the same way the Mopar guys did.