pigeon_in_a_hole

Ok, so let's say I decide to spend the $600, what would you recommend?

I've been waiting for this, I always end up reading your archived posts instead, but I haven't taken the plunge yet so here goes.

 

I have a 2 story house, bottom is hardwood, top is carpet (stairs too). I have 2 cats so my primary debris is cat fur. I'm a weakling so bonus points for something I can carry up the stairs without straining. Right now I have a crappy Hoover bagless upright that I bought from Target in college, on clearance. Somehow, it's lasted me 6 years. I've never spent any other money on vacuums really, so this is a new kind of purchase for me.

That's pretty much where I'm at, but here's the kicker: I'm cheap. I have the money to buy whatever kind of vacuum I need, but I really detest the idea of spending so much on something I can cheap out on. I'm slowly realizing that when my crappy vac dies, it's probably still frugal to shell out for a nice vacuum, even if I don't want to. Moreover, my vet thinks one of my cats may be allergic to dust mites, so if I find that vacuuming helps my kitty, I'll be much more willing to spend on a good one. The question then will be which one balances performance with cost?

Edit: My home is 1800 sq ft