My first machine was a $100.00 machine we bought at Macy’s on time we had to pay half up front, so we went home and robbed the piggy bank. Twenty years later I traded it in spent $400.00 and bought a brother which I still have. Then about 15 years ago hubby got a bug in his bonnet about doing machine embroidery. So I wound up with a Bernina 180. Fine machine, and I hardly do any embroidery at all but it is my primary machine. This year I found a very slightly used Sweet 16 just to be able to quilt larger than wall hangings. Not too bad for being married for 56 years. I have gone from regular garment sewing to costumes to quilting. None of my machines gave me any problems but my sewing interests changed. Good luck in your search.