Hi Smee,
I'm going to add a few qualifiers to the above. You will get the most telescope for the money in a dobsonian, like
http://www.myastroshop.com.au/produc...sp?id=MAS-041A
however this type of scope must be "collimated", or optically aligned, for best results, every few times it is moved around. This can be accomplished with a few simple tricks, but it means that you cannot strictly just grab the scope and start viewing.
If your husband is a DIY type and does not mind adjusting and fiddling a bit, this will be OK. If in your judgement what is required is a scope which can be more or less just set down and used, then maybe this type is better:
http://www.myastroshop.com.au/produc...sp?id=MAS-042D
It is a type which needs minimum adjustment, just pointing and focusing.
There are cheaper types from Dick smith, Woolies etc, but there you are running a risk. Some of them even have plastic lenses
Cheers