I'm not a natural baker and so, I have for the last few years gotten by with the cheapest hand mixers possible. However, with children, it looks like it will be a bigger part of my life. The last mixer died as I was finishing off the icing on the birthday cake for the boys 
and the year before that, my mixer died on Christmas eve. .
I'm ready to spend a bit more, partly as insurance. I am insecure enough about my baking skills without having to worry that the mixer will break 5 minutes in.
I did start to look at getting a stand mixer and would probably go for the Kenwood Chef for £250 via the cooperative with a coupon or a kitchenaid which I can find for £380. But I sort of feel like this is overkill and maybe just some really good hand mixers would do the trick. I think costco have the kmix hand mixer for maybe £40.
Surely that would be enough for cakes, biscuits, banana bread and brownies (what I currently attempt occasionally). But, if I had a stand mixer I would use it for bread too. However, the spec for the kmix and dualit mixers say they can need dough. Is that realistic? Any one else use a hand mixer for kneading? Does your arm fall off at the end?
Obviously the cheaper price tag on hand mixer is appealing, but space is the more limiting factor. The kitchenaid is very pretty though and I could clear away some things on the counter for it if pressed :)