Budget-Conscious Grading Suite: Resolving High-End Expectations with Free Resolve?

Hey everyone, I'm producing a short film shot on an ALEXA 35 and have a budding colorist who’s super talented but working with a very tight budget for their setup. We're aiming for a really polished look, but the advice I keep coming across emphasizes things like FSI monitors and Advanced Panels, which are just not in the cards right now.

My colorist is using the free DaVinci Resolve and has a well-calibrated GUI monitor, but I’m wondering how much of a roadblock the lack of high-end dedicated hardware truly is. We're trying to figure out the best way for them to build a functional, budget-conscious suite that still allows for accurate grading and professional results. Have any of you successfully navigated this? What are the absolute essentials for accurate monitoring and control without breaking the bank? Any tips or alternative workflows for someone starting out with free Resolve and a good GUI monitor?