Go to a store and actually sit and sew on a machine you are considering... how easy is it to thread, how nice is the stitch... what stitches does it do... what will you be using it to do... quilt piecing and light clothing sewing (not denims, not machine quilting) will do probably fine on one of the the machines you can get for $150.... but buy the best you can. Nothing is more frustrating than having a "tool" that doesn't work well, or do what you want it to do. I used to teach and had kindergarteners (with lots of supervision) sew on my machine.... Don't get your daughter one of those "play" machines if you think she really wants to sew... It will just frustrate her.....