Unless you are going to do some serious long-range shooting, I'd do this- get a 16" or 18" FAL carbine from Mark Graham at Arizona Response Systems. He'll build you a gun on an Imbel or DSA receiver with like-new metric parts in about any configuration you want. Go check out his website and look at the photos of some of the guns he's built- they're absolutely top-notch. And it'll be quite a bit cheaper than a DSA standard gun. If you get an ARS gun with the Imbel receiver it'll run you about $1075, $1175 with the DSA. You can pick your muzzle device, get a folding cocking handle, etc. for not a lot of extra dough.
Then, after you re-build your cash supply, find yourself a Springfield standard M1A receiver and send it to Fulton Armory to have Clint make it into a standard-grade rifle. He's also top-notch, and the rifle you get will far outclass any Springfield standard or loaded gun. All GI parts hand-fitted, none of Springfield's cast parts with dubious hardness.
Both rifles are outstanding, provided you get them from reputable manufacturers. If you are able to get only one, I'd get the FAL carbine. It's lighter and handier, parts and mags are cheaper. The M1A is still my personal favorite, but objectively I'd have to say get the FAL carbine if you can have only one.