I have one of each. Long wool coats protect your bum and legs from the wind, but have to be drycleaned, brushed of hair or lint and protected against moths. Puffers are more practical and portable but cover less of you, and depending on filling may also have to be dry cleaned (in the case of down).

The trench coat I have is op shop and the puffer is Kmart so both came in well under budget.

If you really can’t choose you could start with a cheaper puffer to get an idea of it while you continue saving. Then if you don’t like it you can donate it and buy something more suitable