If you're gonna get a Deere don't buy it from a big box store, they are NOT the same quality as from the Deere dealer. You might as well buy a used one to get through until you can afford a good one.
I bought a Deere from Home Depot when they 1st started selling them 12 years ago to replace a 20yo Deere 185 Hydro. I was mowing 2 acres at the time. I wore out the blades in 1 season twice. JD replaced em both times under warranty but told me then about the lesser quality of those at other stores.
