I am in the same boat as you almost. I have a 98 XJ that is my daily driver. I dont mind teh lift and stuff... I simpy cannot afford to go offroad, snap an axle, and then have nothig to drive til I can afford to fix it.

However, if you want the lift, may I suggest an Old Man Emu kit? They only lift you 1-1/2" to 2" and they actually ride better than stock suspension, and provide better flex to boot. Just make sure to get the whole package, shocks and all. This is my game plan since my shocks are worn out and my leaf springs are sagging anyway... But I gotta find freakin work first.

Old Man Emu 1.5" Suspension Systems for 84-01® Jeep Cherokee XJ - Quadratec