To Purple or not to Purple?

So, I'm having a hair crisis. I'm trying to grow out my roots instead of bleaching (aka damaging) them all the time, so the top has to remain purple (which is the best color to hide said roots. They show too much with the pink).

The rest has faded out to a blondish pink which I kinda like. I was going to do all purple the other day, but then just decided to the top and see what happened.

Now I'm not sure what to do. Go purple with the rest? It'll fade to pink, which I like. I also need a haircut. I called our friend for one the other day and she charges $40 - does that sound like a lot? I usually pay $8 (I know, I'm a cheap-o). The most I've paid for a haircut is $20. Am I being unreasonable? Keith says it's normal. I think I could feed my family for a week on that.