Ohhh...your post has reminded me to get crackin' on replacing my broken bread machine. We got it 15 years ago as a wedding gift and used it ALL the time but the motor went out last year. A bread machine is super simple. It was wonderful to turn it on early in the morning and set the timer for exactly when we wanted it done. Ooooohhh the smell of homemade bread when you walk in after church or a long day away from home is just plain delicious!!
We had a West Bend brand machine. I kept all ingredients on hand and used a recipe from the machine's recipe book that came in the box. It was super simple. I will find my recipe and Pm you sometime. I just remember one big tip I learned was putting a pat of the butter at the top of the ingredients in each of the four corners. It helped to make it bake evenly and slide right out of the pan afterward.
It is super duper simple. My recipe called just for water,butter,salt,bread flour, powdered milk and yeast. I tried various recipes but my standard,fall back recipe was my favorite. Sooo light and moist and delicious.
Good luck and best wishes. I vote to buy one!!!