danni - most slow cookers are under 100 to buy unless you go for a really big or ridiculously exxy one - and lets face it, they all do much the same thing! you can get them for less than $50 if you keep an eye on specials - but even full price, the bulk of them are under 100.

as to making meat tender - hell yeah. i'm not a big red meat eater at all - it just doesn't do it for me! but i've made some stuff with the cheaper cuts of beef and it just melts in your mouth. you cook on low for a long time and it is divine. it's pointless buying exxy meat though - just get the cheaper stuff cos it becomes so tender. just make sure, if it is a little fatty, that you trim it before cooking. i'm pretty much the same so i will trim everything. takes a bit of extra time, but it works out better cos fatty food gives me issues with IBS.