One of the worst things you can have happen when you are living on a tight budget is having one of your major household appliances go out. We all know it’ll have eventually, but most of us are ill prepared when these things do finally happen.
The average lifespan of most major household appliances is between 11 and 15 years. But since this is an average, you should be hopeful for the best and prepared for the worst. You might have a great set of appliances that works for 20 years, but you might also end up with a lemon that quits after 8-10 years. Here are 5 ways you can save money on new appliances when the time comes to replace them.
Price Compare
One simple way to save on any household purchase, including appliances, is to compare prices at a few different retailers to see which stores carry items the cheapest. Sometimes there can be a big price difference between a bargain-based store and a store that considers itself to be “high-end”. Most stores have websites that make price comparisons easy, but sometimes it’s worth it to price shop in person to see if store have any special deals going on.
Utilize Store Sales
Speaking of special deals, most appliance retailers have at least a couple of different sales throughout the year. If you are lucky enough to need to replace an appliance around a major holiday, thank your lucky stars. Holidays like Memorial Day and Labor Day often prompt these special sales, and of course most stores also have extra special deals around Black Friday. Plus, lots of stores have deals with manufacturers so you can take advantage of a mail-in rebate too.
Shop Online
Another way to find appliances for less is to shop for them online. You can even find appliances on Gumtree. It may not seem like the best idea since shipping appliances might seem expensive, but it’s fairly easy to find big-box stores that are willing to offer free shipping to your home if you spend over a certain amount of money. If they don’t offer that, or if your purchase doesn’t meet the minimum for free shipping, it’s worth it to see if they have free ship-to-store. Getting free shipping on appliances is a big money saver and online appliance prices are typically cheaper than what you can find in a store.
Go for the Basics
Despite what we might think sometimes, it’s important to remember that we don’t necessarily have to have all the bells and whistles when we buy a new appliance. This is especially true if your appliance needs replaced sooner rather than later and you don’t have the financial means to afford a top-end appliance. It’s more important to have a functioning appliance than a fancy appliance you can’t afford.
Shop Older Models
New models are always rolling out in the appliance world. When this happens the older models in the store are usually marked down so retailers can move their inventory quickly to make room for new. Sometimes you can get a great deal on an older version or model because of this. It’s even worth it to ask if stores are willing to sell their floor models for less.
Of course, the best way to save money on appliances is to take great care of the ones you already have. Keeping your appliances clean and in working order by servicing them regularly and performing maintenance as needed is an easy way to make them last longer.
What other ways can you think of to save on new appliances?
Photo courtesy of: Lucas Fox Barcelona – Ibiza – Mallorca
I’ve read somewhere that you might want to ask if they have stocks that have slight physical defects or dents. These usually are priced much lower but they still work perfectly fine.
Yes, that’s a great idea too!