For many years, I sewed on a Sears Kenmore (bought in 1977). After quilting a twin-sized quilt on it, I began longing for a machine with a wider throat. It wasn't until years after that, when my trusty Kenmore starting giving me trouble, that I seriously began thinking of spending the extra money for my 'dream' machine. Kept putting it off, until my husband finally convinced me to just go ahead and splurge on myself . . . so I bought a Janome 7700 (and LOVE it). Yes, it cost more money than I'd ordinarily spend on a machine . . . but dh and I are very careful with our spending and no one had to go without food, as a result of my purchase. We don't take expensive vacations, if we take a vacation at all. I'm now in my 60s and if not now, when?