I would check garage sales, estate sales and CraigsList. My main machine is a 35-year-old Kenmore which, like yours, is much too heavy to take to classes. At an estate sale I found a newer lightweight Kenmore that uses all of the same feet as my main machine and cost only $65. I found a Brother embroidery/sewing machine on CraigsList for $175 that is also lightweight and acts as my backup if my two Kenmores are threaded with the wrong thread or bobbin and I'm too lazy to change things.