Paint.

We used tin ceiling tiles as our backsplash. They come in all sorts of colors or you can paint them your preferred color. Very reasonably priced and easy to install. Also very easy to clean! We ordered ours from americantinceilings.com Have been very happy w them.

We had paint in our last home. After 15 years, it still looked good. Of course, I never use cheap paint. You can paint now and, after your budget recovers, find a backsplash three or four years from now. There are no backsplash police who require you to install tile you can’t afford.

A friend just did analglypta (sp?) paintable wallpaper as her backsplash. It was not expensive, but she didn't do it to save money. The rest of the kitchen is quite high end. She just liked the look. Can you post a pic? It's kind of hard to suggest something without seeing the space. Hickory can be fairly busy and rustic depending on the application. Something like the analglypta or ceiling tiles might be too much with your cabinets.

beadboard

Another vote for paint. It has my preference to tile even when budget is no issue.

As others have suggested, just paint for now.

You can easily add a backsplash at a later date if necessary.

The only place where a backsplash might be functionally necessary is immediately behind the sink. You could add add something more protective there. I don't have a backsplash in my bathroom because my mirrors meet the counter but I did add a marble remnant to one short side where the sink is close to the wall to protect the wall from splashes from the sink.

Previous owners did beadboard in my kitchen and lots of people told me they liked it. After 2 years I finally put tile, but it did work fine in the short term. I didn't like the quarter round, but they covered over a previous busy backsplash. Otherwise, agree with the others to just paint for now!

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Final after waiting..

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Subway tile.

Although my cabinets are ready to be installed in the next few weeks, I have been searching for the countertop to go with the cabinets. I will NOT do anything until cabinets and flooring are installed before my final decision. I was leaning toward the bead board or tin tiles. I recently installed Cambria in my primary residence in the kitchen and added a stained bead board to match the cabinets to give it a hutch look. The board sets above the quartz backsplash and looks great. This is a counter that has no area to worry about splashing of any kind. I will post a photo of the kitchen project I'm now working on at the lake when finished. Thank you all for your suggestions.

Karen

Paint the wall. Laminate countertop.