I have a Bernina, think it cost about $600 a couple of years ago and my mum & I went halves in it.

Ask your local sewing machine dealer, they sometimes get second hand machines that people trade in when buying a brand new machine, most of them have nothing wrong with them (or the dealer can probably fix them up for a small price). Rather than buying a brand new one at this stage, it might be better to get a cheapish 2nd hand one and upgrade later on?