Hi there,
I have a lot of experience when it comes to managing VPS and everything that comes with it. I provide hosting services on my own servers and I had to install a panel that would let me manage my client's account easily.
I could setup something similar for you. I would install a panel called "Virtualmin", feel free to look it up online. It's an open-source management panel, similar to cPanel, but it's free since it's open-sourced. Whether your looking to host other people website or your own, I strongly believe it's a great choice.
If you already have a domain, the setup would go even more smoothly. Also, the panel generates TLS (https) certificate on it's own once configured. If your planing on sending emails from the VPS, it's important to sign the emails with a DKIM key so it doesn't go into spam folders, which I can also setup. Finally, cybersecurity is really important to me, this panel installs and let's you configure Fail2Ban, which allows you to block automatically bruteforce attempts into your VPs.
If you want and there is time, I can go through the panel with you and explain some of things.
If everything goes well, it shouldn't take too long, maybe three or four hours.
I usually charge 65$/h, but seeing your budget I'm willing to go for 35$/h, hence the 140$ (35x4h).
Thank you,
William