spend a grand? you can make a one color press for super cheap, I've seen multi-color homemade presses made for under $100.
cheapest method you could just make one screen then set it on the shirts and screen print, you don't even need a press. I've made shirts by cutting the design out of really thin plastic from an art supply store then rolling screen printing ink on with a little sponge roller. There are also tutorials online for making a screen using super fine fabric, a needlepoint hoop, and glue to block out the non-design part.