I've seen some very nice sewing tables on craigslist for very reasonable prices. I've also seen them discounted at big quilt shows, often damaged with a chip or some other kind of cosmetic ding that wouldn't affect their use. Smaller quilt shows sometimes have a "garage sale" booth. Even sewing machine shops sometimes have discontinued models or damaged items for sale. The one thing I don't recommend is the folding tables, like Costco sells. I started out on one of those, and the vibration was terrible when the sewing machine was running. I think getting the machine at the right height is one of the most important things for your comfort while sewing, so recessing it is usually necessary for me.