I really like my Brother and it was one of the inexpensive ones.

I have a Brother XL2600i which I got on Amazon for under $100. I've never had a problem with it, but it doesn't have any bells or whistles and has a really small harp size.

I have a Brother SQ9000, and I love it. It does a lot of things that my old Singer cannot do, and it weighs a lot less. Jim got it for me 3 1/2 years ago at Walmart for just $199.00 before tax. Give it a try. If you do not like what it does, you have about a month to take it back.

I have had 3 low end, I still own 2 all of mine still sew well even the one given to my MIL, I will never hesitate to buy brother. I am a true die hard brother lover

I own several machines.

Pfaff
Singer 15-91
Janome 1600
Brother Nouvelle 1500s
Brother SE270D
Singer 201, stretched to 18"
Janome serger

Of all these machines, the Brother 1500 (I call it "Big Brother") is my absolute favorite. That machine is a simple, rock-solid, heavy-duty machine. If it was an automobile, it would be a Ford F250 pickup. Dependable, metal not plastic, well-built, can handle heavy loads.

However. You're wanting something smaller, so let me talk for a bit about my Brother SE270D ("Baby Brother"), which is a small, lightweight embroidery machine, more of a Honda Civic, if you will. My husband bought it from Overstock about 10 years ago, and it had been re-manufactured. I played with the embroidery function until I decided I wasn't really into embroidery, and got hooked on quilting instead. It was my "daily driver" for several years and has NEVER let me down. There are two reasons why it is now my backup machine instead of my main machine:
A) I needed more harp space. The Big Brother has 9", the Baby Brother has 5".
B) The Baby Brother has an LED lamp that is not replaceable. It still works, but has dimmed quite a bit. I could not figure out how to access the lamp, so I took it to the repair shop, and was told it's not replaceable. The repairman insinuated that Brother figures when the LED burns out, the machine would be replaced; to them it's a disposable model. Engineered obsolescence and all that. I found this mildly annoying, but considering the thousands of hours I had that light on, I figure I got more than my money's worth. It still works great, I just use a gooseneck lamp aimed at the presser foot now.

Love my Brother.

Brother machines have a reputation for being user-friendly and economical. I have one my sis gave me and I like it. Ir's loght weight enough to carry to classes & club.

Costco has the Brother XR1355 for$134.99. Does anyone have this one?

I have 3 Brothers and love them, they have many special stitching features, always dependable ans what I like most is that they come for the less expensive price, with about 10+ special feet attachments! each would cost bunches if bought separately. Their support department is very helpful also, have only called them twice, mostly with questions about my QC1000 Brother. Go for one of them , think you will be really pleased!

I would pick a Brother machine over a new Singer any day. . .