What is the best (least expensive too) thing to do to improve peeling paint on the outside of my house.?

We just had our house painted 1 1/2 years ago and didn't have it sandblasted or anything first, now it is peeling in a lot of places. Vinyl siding would be close to $20,000, and I do not know how much having the house stuccoed would cost, a lot I think. I would like to invest enough to make the house look nicer but not go into major debt, I am thinking I will have to have it sandblasted or something like that and repainted, any ideas.