Blender Recommendations - green smoothies, nuts, sauces etc.

chene249

If only i could afford a vitamix then everything would be sorted aha.

But i was wondering are there are low-end-cheap-ish brands out there that are okay (doesn't need to be perfect) in blending up smoothies with veges, frozen fruit etc? Or how about pulsing beans and stuff to make dips/ sauces? I don't mind having to chop up ingredients smaller - i just hope the blender DOES ITS JOB AND LASTS!

I've heard that nutribullet/ ninja etc are good at smoothies - but are they good at grinding up nuts and maybe dried fruit? I'd love to be about to mash dates to make desserts (:

In any case, what are your recommendations?