An entry-level machine from Janome, if you want to buy new, or a good used machine from your local sewing machine sales/service place, which will have made sure it's in perfect running order before selling it. If you knew how to assess a machine or were prepared to take a chance, you could get such a machine for anywhere from free to $25 or so. The shop will charge more, but will give some warranty on it as well as having tuned it up, and should give you a manual with it which is very useful, even indispensable for a novice. You may be able to buy a new machine cheaper off the net than from a dealer's shop, but if you can't figure out how to operate it the dealer you buy it from will help out. The internet won't. No need to avoid an older machine. The one I do most of my sewing on is 30 years old and running perfectly.

I don't need a bunch of features and I won't be doing quilting or anything creative. I'm very tall and thin and clothes are either much too short or much too wide, so I'd like being able to just take shirts, jackets, etc. in at the side on my own.

So I need it to be just strong enough to get through moderate thicknesses, and as inexpensive as possible, those are the only things I care about.

Any recommendations?