For under 500 I would get the brother PC-420 off of amazon, but that would just be my choice. It has more metal and is more heavy duty than the walmart machines. Are they joanns gift card because you cant use those in the viking department. You don't have any dealers nearby or a quilt/craft show coming up where you can try out machines. I have a walmart machine and its not bad, but for the amount of money you have you really can get something nicer than at walmart or the joanns singers if your not going to get one in the viking department