A while back when I had run out of test strips for the meter I was using at that time I bought a pura at local chemists for a fiver the free strips with it kept me going for a couple of days, It was a **** meter and it's now in the bottom of a cupboard somewhere So I am sorry you are lumbered with one.
I paid for a Accu-Chek Performa meter over three years ago when I was diagnosed with T2. I got a later model Performa given to me by my pharmacy when I got the original checked out for accuracy.
I have since got a freebie Abbot Freestyle Freedom Lite from their website which I now prefer to the Performa.
Strips are not a problem as I get them subsidised by the NDSS at a very good price.