Most ‘craft’ scissors have dreadful handles, but a good sharp pair that fit your hand nicely will make a huge difference. Try as many as you can, a fabric store often has some packaged in such a way that you can actually put your hand in them.

Cutting cardboard, just know that you’ll have to sharpen them frequently. Look for ones with an adjusting screw at the hinge, not a rivet. This means they can be tightened after sharpening. Riveted scissors only have 3-4 sharpenings in them, then the blades don’t meet properly anymore.

You can also look to quilting rulers and utility knives with a good cutting mat underneath for the bigger cuts. Those blades are cheaper and easier to replace.