The French label Fra Musica has some interesting opera DVD's in their catalogue.
Lully, both Armide (Theatre des Champs Elyases and Atys (Opera comique), by Lully, Les Arts Florissants and William Christie performing the music for both French opera companies. Two cds each.

These will seriously deflate my budget, since they are about $40 each.

Others offered by Fra Musica on DVD are Carmen, music by Gardiner; Mirelle (Gounod), orchestra directed by Marc Minkowski, Opera National de Paris, Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, Christie and Opera comique (London!); Katia Kabanova (Janacek) performed at Teatro Real (Madrid), conductor Belohlavek, production by Robert Carsen.

Seriously deflate? Leave only a dead moth and some dust.