I actually registered for these forums in an attempt to possibly save you.
If you've got about $30, you can still set yourself up for homebrew.
Buy this:
http://us.codejunkies.com/shop/product.asp?c=US&cr=USD&cs=$&r=0&l=1&ProdID=986
Its basically a premade Pandora's Battery by Datel (if your parents are suspicious, just write it off as a spare battery and claim you want an extra for on the road). You still have to make the Magic Memory Stick component to really give yourself the Pandora's Battery functionality (this battery just snaps your PSP into Service Mode, which allows you to go behind the Firmware to do work).
These are the files you need to download to create a Magic Memory Stick:
http://dl.qj.net/Pandora-s-Battery-PSP-Homebrew-Applications/pg/12/fid/14362/catid/151
Normally, you'd have to find someone who already has a custom Firmware PSP to make the Magic Memory Stick for you but use this program and simply load the individual files it tells you onto your Memory Stick directly:
http://rapidshare.com/files/51253858/Pandora_s_Box.rar.html
Go here to download 3.60 M33 for usage on the Slim PSP (just change the readme.en file within to readme.txt and open it with Notepad for instructions on how to install 3.60 M33 once you have the battery and Magic Memory Stick):
http://dl.qj.net/M33-PSP-Slim-Custom-Firmware-3.60-PSP/pg/12/fid/14521/catid/114
Hopefully this clears the air a little. This is the alternative method for people who don't have access to people who can make a Pandora's Battery for them.