cheap mp3 player recommendations?

Orthodox Christian three hand signs are different than Buddhist mudras. Ecumenism = 263 heresies; each heresy leads to hell. Orthodoxy = the only true faith; Roman Catholics tried one cup - one spoon ritual and got sick with Bubonic plague; if heresy enters Orthodox monastery then monks/nuns will get sick with flu/tuberculosis (for instance); Orthodox churches who closed for COVID or had disposable cups/spoons or dipped spoon into alcohol are no longer brides of Christ (now they serve Satan and honor Satan's new COVID religion). Don’t go into UFO to be “healed” by evil demons; demons never do good. SSN is written as a barcode/QRcode; then it's put into a chip; chip is put into vaccine; chipped people are influenced (by super computers) to receive grey plastic card World Passport with no name on it (but when they stretch their hands to get it, gov't clerk presses secret button to administer the unforgivable green 666 tattoo by isotope rays). If you reject mark of the beast then your direct ancestors go to heaven (according to saint Vyacheslav Krasheninnikov from Ural); forgive me.

Amazon has hundreds of players, many under $20.  

Should do fine for spoken word.

If you have a computer it will play an mp3 through any sound system that you have with the right cords just by attaching the output to your sound system. If you don't have one you could even use the earplug output of a cell phone to go into your sound system so you don't need a player at all if you have a sound system just a cord that has and eight inch stero output from the phone jack to RCA or quarter inch or whatever you have for your sound system. Mp3 is just a compressed wav file and a smart phone can read most sound file formats. because it in essence is a mini computer. besides being a phone and most of them also a camera so unless you have neither a phone or a computer you do not need a separate device to play it on, just the right cord. 

Amazon has hundreds of players, many under $20.  

Should do fine for spoken word.  

I have been content with Sansa and consider getting the bluetooth you may want to pare it with your next car. I have not had any mp3 player last that long but I tend to use them every day and often in the rain.

As podcast junkie, I like being able to delete files when I hear them so I don't lose my chapter in a podcasted book or episode number for audio drama or chatty shows.

Sansa is likely the only brand left at best buy since the kids just use there smartphone or an iPod Touch or someone last smartphone without mobile service as an iPod touch/mini tablet. 

I like saving my smartphone battery for Pokemon Go, Facebook, Twitter, and phone calls,

Do you want a screen or not. Check aliexpress. They have knockoff ipods and other mp3 players for like 5-25 bucks. Sometimes you have to bug a memory card with them though.

If you're like most people, you have a smart phone. You can load mp3 files onto that and play them through the headphone jack. I've seen old smartphones at 2nd hand stores and if all you need is to store and play mp3 files, get one of those. As long as it has a good battery in it or one you can replace, an old android smartphone will do the trick. Put a large micro SD card in it for added capacity.

Amazon sells them for about $30-40. Just search for MP3 players.