Die cutter advice/recommendations please

[FingonTheValiant]

Hello all, I’m after a little bit of advice about die cutters please. I’ve been on a huge hiatus from paper crafts but I used to make cards. I was doing it when the sizzix came out and as I was a broke student at the time I resisted and just stamped and used a scalpel to cut out.

I’d like to get back into it, and I have 3 children who would like to make cards / glue shapes / generally play with paper, so I’m thinking I’d finally like to get a die cutter. But I’m not sure what to go for now. I see the Big Shot is still available, and that I might be able to get a second hand bundle on eBay... which is tempting. But like all crafters I’m a moth to the crafting flame, and I’ve just discovered that there are now digital versions. Very tempting.

Could someone please help me find my way through them please?

The digital cutters are really cool - but just watch the youtube videos with in your mind that Cricut seem to throw resources heavily into influencer marketing and take things with a pinch of salt.

Having said that - I've got a Cricut Explore Air and I love it (new toy) - but it might be more than you need if you just want a die cutter replacement - I specifically bought the level I did because I wanted the print then cut option.

Thanks for you answer CoffeeWithCheese. I was looking at finally getting a Big Shot, but I live in France and there aren't loads of second hand bundles available. In fact, the best I could find with a few dies included was going to cost me min 115 euros. For new it was 130 for the starter set. And I'd have needed to buy a reasonable number of dies to make it interesting for me and the boys... So yes, mainly for as a die cutter replacement, but I'm open to new things

Then I found a shop with the Cricut Joy for 169, with some freebies included (cards, card mat, roll of vinyl, roll of label stuff). So I decided I'd get that. I was looking for cards and small card shapes mainly, so I think it'll be fine. And if I can do a small bit of T-shirt customising for the boys, that's a plus.

I was so tempted by an Air, but as I've never had anything like it before I wasn't sure I'd get my money's worth. Bundles and reductions are much less common here than they are in the UK, so I'd almost certainly have to pay full price.

Amazon here put the Maker on a Flash Sale on Wednesday and I almost pulled the trigger, but I have no idea if I'll use it enough to justify it, though I love the idea of being that crafty. So I went for the Joy. (And then today the buggers put the Air2 on reduction... But I'm sticking with my plan). If I go Cricut mad and I can upgrade for Christmas