Best Tips For Saving When Buying Appliances
Do Some Research
Look at Consumer Reports
Read reviews
How well does it perform?
Does it fit how you would like to use it?
Know Your Lifestyle
Are you someone that bakes a lot or are you more of a person who likes to use the stove?
Double ovens are great for the avid baker or the holiday host. While more burners might be more your style if you cook the majority of you meals on the stove.
Is having an in-freezer ice maker important to you? What about water dispensed from the fridge? Models without these features usually cost less, which is something to keep in mind.
Don’t try to cut corners just for the sake of cutting costs! If you truly would like that double oven, then go for it! It keeps you from kicking yourself later and regretting the decision you made to go without it. Build it into your appliance budget by going lighter on something like your lighting fixtures budget.
Brands
Some say that when buying appliances stick to a single brand for a more cohesive look. While I agree in some cases, I overall disagree. This is because some brands are better at ovens than fridge/freezer combos or vice versa.
If you are more concerned about aesthetics than high quality performance, go with all the same brand. If performance is what you are after, mix it up and choose the best of the best.
Shop Around
I usually find the particular product I am looking for and then Google search the item number for a better deal. I write down where I can find the product and for how much. Then I compare when it’s time to buy.
When picking out the appliances for our kitchen remodel, I found the dishwasher I wanted was $200 less expensive at Lowe’s than anywhere else I had searched. Then the fridge/freezer combo $150 cheaper at Costco.
Be diligent and look around, just because one store offers a package deal, doesn’t really mean it’s a good deal.
Also, does one store offer a coupon code for a percentage off? Factor the savings in when you’re shopping around. Just be aware of expiration dates!
Look For Sales
I had picked out all of our kitchen appliances, but I waited to purchase until the Labor Day Sales kicked off. We saved 40% on all our appliances just by waiting a few weeks for an upcoming sale. There are always sales around the big holidays, and Black Friday is just around the corner! Also keep a lookout for when companies roll out their new models for the year. Last years models are usually price dropped.
Hack Your Costco Membership
If you know you are going to be purchasing a significant portion through the items offered at Costco, take a look at how your Costco membership can work for you. An Executive Membership costs $120 a year and you can earn a 2% reward on your purchases. If you expect to spend at least $6,000 on appliances, you can earn your membership fee back for the year.
Yay free Costco membership!
And that’s only if you just spend the six grand on appliances and buy nothing else there for the rest of the year. I’m not sure about you, but it is hard for my family to make it through a Costco trip without dropping at least $50!
Remember, you can always switch back to a $60 Gold Star membership next year when your Costco purchases will be significantly less!
For more tips on how to save more money in general, check out 6 Ways To Save More Money!
