I buy whatever I can snag for cheap in the Spring closeouts. Got a set of Goodyear something or another for $30 apiece for the Golf. They'll age out before I wear them out, this coming Winter will be the fifth season for them. I also have a set of General Altimax Arctic for one of my Passats. Really ANY snow tire is going to be better than ANY summer or even "all season" tire. I swap mine out on the Golf when any actual winter weather threatens, then either take them back off OR drive another car. The Passat will wear them all season long, but it is a spare (AWD) car, so...
I think if this is your only car, and you are not able to swap them out as needed and will put them on in October and keep them on regardless of road conditions all Winter long until April, you may want something that is better all around and tolerable on dry/cold roads like one of the northern European or Russian made/inspired tires (the ones with names that look like someone passed out on their keyboard). But for just using in occasional snow conditions, any name brand tire will work wonders and won't break the bank.