Well, I've been reading the responses and it sounds like what you need is an inexpensive (you shop at Walmart and seem to have a fair number of kids) but indestructible sewing machine, maybe not a fancy-pants fabric doodler?
I've got a fancy-pants Singer (well, it was fancy 8 or 9 years ago) and a Kenmore from the 30's (cabinet, electric, knee-control) and a Singer I inherited from my Grandmother (same vintage and style as the Kenmore)...and an old Jones hand-crank.
Frankly, I like the Kenmore first, the Singer next, the Jones hand-crank after that and the fancy-pants Singer last of all. The first three only do straight stitch, but 95% of the time, that's all I need. A nice set of pinking shears and I almost never have to zigzag. I got the old Kenmore for $25 at a Kiwanis sale, Gma's Singer is beautiful and was free while the hand-crank was $30 at an old furniture auction. The Fancy-pants Singer I pleaded for an Xmas present years and years ago - and it strained the budget at the time. I was a fool. The fancy-Singer's broken down more times than not and the tension is difficult to manage. The other three, a simple tweak and we're good to go!
Even the daughter's snagged Gmas' singer for her own - refusing to use the fancy one.
If you don't have to spend a lot of money, then don't. If you're just going to make underwear and shirts, etc, a straight stitch'll do you just fine which means you can go to one of the all-metal indestructible old beauties - which are cheaper for whatever reason.
Save your pennies, Enjoy and happy sewing!