I find Xara Designer Pro X invaluable for all graphic work, including web-site design. I've used it since it started out on Acorn Archimedes Computers and have upgraded regularly so the cost has been less painful.

There are cut down versions and older versions which may be economical.

A cut-down version specifically for CD design comes with Magix Audio Cleaning Lab 2013, which is very useful for tweaking recordings, whether original or from old tapes and lps.