Serger Question Ideas Sewing Machines Parts and Sales in Los Angeles

Okay, I know I’m out of my element. I hope you don’t burn me at the stake for this. I read the side bar and did not see this information so I also hope I am not speaking out of turn.

My wife has been working really hard to save our family money by making our children’s clothes, well as much as possible. I feel most of it starting coming together when her mother let her use the old serger she had laying around. It is rather old. She was using it recently and it broke. No biggy, brought it in to have it fixed. Big biggy….too old and no parts to fix it anymore. She has been in a slump since this news was delivered. She is trying to stay positive about it but understands that this part of her hobby may be on life support right now because of the lack of tools and funds to buy a new serger. I want to give this problem a fair shake and see what the costs would be. I googled top sergers and found some that range around the 199-300 range. Are those quality enough to do the home projects that we tend to look it? It is a bit out of our current price range, but I want to try to find a way to make it happen. Any tips for shopping for these, like best places to buy. I did read the showing machine guide.

TLDR: Help finding serger options for my wife, I have no idea where to start, but have found reddit to be supportive in the past. Hoping I’m in the right subreddit.

Thank you very much for your help and