I bought my DD's first machine, a basic machine where I worked with a discount. She learned to do alot of sewing but still had issues with it later on. So when it was time for an upgrade because her first machine was just not wotking right even with service, I took her to the dealer where I had purchased my best machine. I had her try out the different machines, and bought the one she liked the best. It had a few more stitches but was still listed as a basic machine. What my DD wanted was a machine that when she put her foot on the pedal, it ran without any hestitaion. that is what she found. The price and the kind of machine maybe limited buy what budget you have, but you can still get a good machine for the money.