In the same situation I bought the 'Which' Best Buy, a Janome sewing machine that cost just under £200. That was 5 years ago and I have never regretted my purchase.
I would avoid the very cheap machines. DGD, aged 10, was given a very basic electric sewing machine for her birthday as she enjoys sewing. It came from John Lewis and, while I have no complaints about the quality. It has a lot of limitations.
For example,it only has one fixed foot, so if you want to put a zip in something, you cannot take the standard foot off and replace it with a zip foot. It has only a limited range of stitches, as I remember. After two visits to me with her sewing machine, she now leaves it behind and uses my sewing machine.
I have looked at JL's current 'cheapo'. It is a bit more advanced than DGDs, but still limited.
One feature essential for older sewers is a built in needle threading device. I have an old sewing machine in our holiday home in Normandy. It is also a Janome and very good, but I have to thread the needle by hand and eye. It can sometimes take a very long time.