If you have the free personal PayPal account, you can only accept payments that have been funded by monies already in the buyer's PayPal account, not by any form of card payment.
You must not display the PayPal logo on your listings as this states you will accept card payments.
And you must make it clear in your listing that the PayPal payment is restricted.
Most sellers find this far too restrictive and upgrade to the business account - you don't need to be running a business, but it does cost, as you have said.
Or you could opt not to use PayPal at all, and offer cheque, postal order or bank transfers, all of which are free to you but inconvenient and risky to the buyer.
Most buyers prefer the speed and convenience of PayPal as well as the degree of protection it can offer.