Check with your local shops that sell machines. You may be able to pick up a used machine. Many people trade up just bacause they want something fancier & there is nothing really wrong with what they had. Just make sure that they offer some kind of warranty & that it has been serviced. You can use a mechanical vs. computerized machine. Just make sure you get a 1/4" foot for piecing & a "walking foot" for quilting. You can get "generic" feet to fit most any machine. Take a quilt sandwich with you & try quilting on the machine you consider purchasing to make sure it will do what you need it to do. Free motion quilting is something else. You need to be able to "drop the feed dogs" & you can't do this with all machines.