We put the money into the base
The subgrade is the dirt and gravel your slab sits on, and nobody sees it once the pour is done. That makes it the first thing cut when a budget gets tight, and it's a common reason slabs settle and crack. A base that's only raked level moves with the dirt under it, and the concrete moves right along with it.
So if something has to give, I'd rather you go with a plain broom finish on a base we dug out and packed than a fancy stamped surface on loose dirt. A sealer or stain can go on later, but the ground under a slab can't be fixed without tearing the slab out. I'll walk you through that trade-off when I come out.

