I use NOD32 on my tower and I'm pretty happy with it but I just restored my dad's laptop from 2006 and I'd rather not pay for a subscription for this computer since I probably will be getting a different laptop.

There's no reason to ever use paid antimalware programs. Avast, Avira, and AVG are popular ones that have been around for a while, I personally use Microsoft Security Essentials, which is much better than you might expect it to be. Pick one of those four to have always running, and also install Malwarebytes and Superantispyware -- those two should cover removal of almost anything that slips through. Spybot Search & Destroy is also a nice program.

MSE is really the best option for Windows. We've been using it since it came out and have been pleasantly surprised by how much stuff it picks up that AVG used to miss.

Malwarebytes (yes with a "y") look it up, Ive used it and personally, it has saved me and my computer over 4 times! Hope that helps!

Also, paid ones aren't worth the money, even if it does support them to make a below average, but better program

I completely agree that paid antiviruses are useless and you should just stick with the free ones. I'd say install Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware along with maybe Avast or AVG. Or you could switch it to Linux and not have to worry about AV software at all.