I have had very good luck buying used machines. I have purchased them off Craigslist, thrift stores, antique stores and (believe it or not) pawn shops. The one I'm using now is a Janome 3022 and cost me $40. I had a "used but practically brand new" Juki 98e that I got for half the price of new, and sold it for a little less on this board. I think I got a good deal and I think she got a good deal too! Other than that, I haven't spent more than $50 on a machine. And all of them have worked perfectly after some basic TLC.