Old fuse box needs replaced with new breaker box.

This past weekend we lost power to pretty much half our house. A friend who is an electrician looked at the fuse box and told me it needs replaced. Unfortunately he can't do the work due to health problems. I contacted a few other electricians and the best price I found was $1300-$1600,my friend doubts it will go as high as $1600,but $1300- $1600 for everything is a pretty reasonable estimate. We've applied for loans and have been turned down. So now I'm here asking for help. With it being winter I need to come up with the funds as soon as possible.