Best Nikon lens at this price range?

Hi, I have a basic 18-55mm Nikon lens that came with the camera itself,

I spent my budget on a camera and a DJ controller, I don't have enough money left, So I'm looking for a new zoom lens for like $40.

Nope.

This a problem, with DSLR's. This site and others promote the DSLR camera as being the "cat's meow". And in regards to quality in large prints this IS true. However if 4x6's, 8x10's are your main "thing" then a qualtiy "bridge type camera is the type of camera to own. I own a bridge camera and if you are careful there's no reason you can't make quality 11x14's and 16x20's with ONE zoom lens that comes on a bridge type camera.
Future DSLR camera owners should check out the model camera on it's web site to get an idea what future lenses will cost.

Sorry for such negative news, but this IS the situation. Your budget(and you have plenty of company, believe me) just shows that you were not familiar with the DSLR experience.

Have you actually looked at lens prices? If you want a decent lens you will need to add a zero to your budget. There are no lenses for $40.

Look for used AFS lenses on KEF.com

While you are going to have to pay more than $40 (unrealistic, but my guess is that you have not visited the Nikon website to see what lenses actually cost)

If you are billing your clients enough for your DJ work, this should not be a problem

You say that you have an 18-55mm lens. So with money so tight why are you shopping for any new lens? Do you imagine that $40 will get you a BETTER lens? Better for what? If you want your pictures to look better, spend your spare time taking some, not looking for how to throw away your last $40.

"New zoom lens" - do you mean a better lens of a similar range to your standard "kit zoom" of 18 to 55mm, or do you mean a telephoto zoom, for serious reach towards distant objects?

But in both cases your $40 will go nowhere. For a serious "standard zoom" of around 17mm to 50 or 55mm at constant f2.8 you will need $500 for independent brands or $900 for a Nikon lens. For a tele zoom of around 70mm to 300mm you will need around $250 for independent brands, or much more for a Nikon lens - and that is for starters - reckon on at least $400 for serious tele zoom lenses.

50mm f/1.8D AF
Nikon's least expensive lens is also among its sharpest. It has no distortion, focuses almost instantly, and it's Nikon's smallest and lightest lens.

It is among Nikon's fastest lenses, and covers film and the full FX frame.

Except that the D40, D40x and D60 can't autofocus with it (neither can the F3), there's no reason not to own one of these, unless you opt for the twice as expensive 50mm f/1.4 D.

All the earlier 50mm f/1.8 lenses since 1978 are also all excellent, including the 50mm f/1.8 AF (non-D), 50mm f/1.8 Nikkor manual focus, and the 50mm f/1.8 Series E.