There are some rooms in the home that tend to cost a little more in their upkeep than the others. Other than the bathroom, the kitchen is easily the costliest to update or upgrade and those appliances are going to be the primary reason behind it. And the bulk of that expense is due to the fact that the standard for appliances has really increased.
It is no longer good enough that your refrigerator just keep your food cool. It must dispense filtered water, make ice and be totally interactive with all your other SMART devices. Same with any other kitchen appliance. Plus you will pay extra for the latest trending colours! Heaven forbid only one of your appliances goes and you can no longer replace it with the same colour and you are looking at replacing them all to keep them co-ordinated.
The struggle is real
Yesterday my stove broke. The burners still work but the oven doesn’t. After one short month after having to replace my clothes dryer, I am having to make another decision about another appliance in my home. Not exactly how I wanted to be spending my Sunday but here we are. Fortunately my dryer experience has taught me a few things and I hope that will help me make a much faster and informed decision on what I should do next.
Of course at the back of my head I always keep in mind that whatever I choose to do, it must align with the fact that I may sell my home to downsize after my husband retires in the next few years. This puts additional pressure and stress on me and my wallet as home buyers expect the latest and greatest in home appliances these days. I do not want my appliances to hurt my chances of a profitable home sale.
Let me share the ways I make appliances a little less expensive while still balancing my need for an upgrade:
5 Ways You Can Reduce Your Kitchen Appliance Costs
1. Invest in a little TLC
One of the big problems that cause our machines to become more expensive is that we don’t give them the care and attention that they need. Have you ever changed the oil in your car? Of course your have. You know that to keep your car in tip top shape, there are things you must do regularly.
Your home appliances are no different. If your fridge is fraught with problems and you’re considering replacing it, instead look at how to give it proper fridge maintenance. A little work here and there and your machines will stay in good working order as well as efficient, helping you reduce their energy consumption and, thus, reduce your bills and need to replace.
2. Don’t replace when you can repair
There comes a time that a machine becomes so old and inefficient that it’s worth replacing, and that repairs may become so frequent that it would be most cost-efficient to buy a new one. I totally get that. However, many people get rid of their appliances long before that point without proper investigation.
I have had my stove repaired three times over the last 12 years that I have owned it. I always fully research what I think the problem is and how much the worse case scenario would cost me before I make a decision on whether to repair or replace. It is amazing how much information you can find online to help you! You probably can pinpoint the problem and the cost of replacement parts before you even call the repair man.
Having the number of a qualified repair technician and investing in services like dryer repair can save you a lot of money and make sure you see an appliance to the end of its lifecycle. It might work just fine if you’re willing to take care of it or at the very least, give you time to look for and save for an upgrade. You should also consider investing in home warranty coverage to help offset the cost of performing these repairs.
3. Aim for energy-efficient replacements
If you do have to replace your existing appliances, then it pays to look at one feature in particular: just how eco-friendly they might be. Energy-efficient and water-efficient washing machines and other appliances are becoming a lot more common. They might cost a little more, to begin with, but they soon start saving you money by reducing your bills. You might even save enough on your energy bills that your appliances end up paying for themselves.
When I finally decided to upgrade my clothes dryer last month, I opted for a gas model. The cost of the appliance plus the cost of the gas line installation was expensive. But considering that my household uses the dryer almost every single day, I worked out that I would make back what I spent upfront in energy savings in less than a year.
4. Don’t be so afraid of using used appliances
You might naturally be sceptical of buying used appliances and electronics for good reason. When buying from average everyday people on buy, sell, swap sites and groups, you don’t know how that appliance has been taken care of or why they are getting rid of it. You could be buying a dud.
Personally, I have bought and sold home appliances on Kijiji and Craigslist and have had great success. You may think I am lucky but I always balance the cost with the “what if it is a dud” factor. Always make sure the seller has great reviews and always see the appliance working when you go to check it out. Keep in mind that people are always upgrading their appliances for newer models and getting rid of perfectly fine used ones. Why not reap the benefits of someone else’s need to always have the latest technology.
As well, if you do choose to go new, even if your old appliance isn’t working, you could still sell the old one for parts on those same sites. This will help you get some money towards your new purchase.
However, you do have another option as well. There are stores that sell refurbished used products and with them you can make sure you’re getting them at a certain quality. These places will only sell used goods after they have been checked for issues, repaired, and thoroughly maintained, unless otherwise stated. Many also offer 90 day money back guarantees. Many appliance shops that do repairs may have refurbished models so it is always a good idea to call around and find out.
Check out what appliances I always buy from thrift stores here.
5. Wait for the sales or buy a floor model
If you want to buy brand new, and you don’t need to do it immediately, try to time your purchase. Think about when the next big seasonal sale or special offer event will be. I bought my clothes dryer during an ebate savings event and that reduced its price immensely. So my gas dryer ended up costing me the same as the regular priced electric model. And don’t be shy about asking when you are out shopping about when the next big sale will be. A good salesperson will let you know if a price reduction will be coming up. Make sure you get their business card if they help you out this way. Most of them work on commission and you should reward them with the sale if they saved you money.
Another great way to purchase new is to be open to buying the floor model. Believe it or not, just like cars, appliances have new models every single year. That means that the store no longer needs the demo model. You can save huge money this way. You probably won’t get the box but you will get the manuals and the warranty. Chances are that the appliance hasn’t even been used before and probably has all the same features that the latest model will have. Just ask the salesperson and they should be able to tell you the difference.
Don’t forget to check out scratch and dent sales too! I helped a friend buy a refrigerator from a big box store that had a scratch down one side. The scratch happened to be on the side that would be against her kitchen wall so she saved a ton of money by getting it!
Another tip for getting appliances on a budget: Trending colours will always cost more. If you opt for plain white, you can get the latest technology at a huge savings to you.
Taking the time to do research and being open to other options is the key to reducing the costs of your kitchen appliances. Of course, being a savvy consumer doesn’t hurt, as well. Hopefully, the tips above keep your kitchen in stock and under budget.