GPSs are truly wonderful things and you should buy one as soon as possible. The only reason not to is that the Dickensian CAA syllabus doesn't let you use it. Once you've got through that hoop, it's your number one purchase.
Mine cost £100 so don't tell me you can't afford one. For VFR you take off, set course and then check your GPS. It puts you on the right heading and gives you your groundspeed (= time to next waypoint). Don't trust The Met Office. After that you don't need to look at it again until you are near your next waypoint.
When you get to your destination airfield you can go arrow like into the overhead but equally, if the weather is not so good, you can position yourself easily on any chosen radial to join the circuit or come straight in.