Any skiers out there? Need advice on a new jacket...

We ski about once a year and I really need to replace my 10-year old Columbia parka that weighs a ton and looks like it's from the 80's. Same situation for my wife. We are not hardcore skiers (stick to the blues mostly), but I anticipate us going once a year or every other year for the foreseeable future.

Since we don't go hardcore, I don't tend to sweat too much so I need something that will keep me warm (breathability would not be much of a concern), especially on the lifts. This makes me feel like I should go with something insulated rather than a shell. Should I consider a good shell and just layer up as necessary? This scares me because both my wife and I tend to be sensitive to the cold and I'm just worried that a shell won't be warm enough.

I don't have an unlimited budget, so the $400-$500 or more options are not realistic. I don't think I would want to go over $250. That seems like a realistic expectation in doing some internet searching, but I'm not sure what brands are really worth spending that much on.

Any suggestions are much appreciated.