I need new appliances... where do I begin?

[FloridaBorn]

Dear Santa,

I've been needing a new fridge for a while. It's been on my "do list" for the past two years, but I've been putting it off... totally going into sticker shock whenever I've tried shopping. The fridge I have was made in 1987.

I think stainless steel is ridiculous. I have no desire for water or ice makers... and even if I wanted that stuff I'd have to have a water line installed in my kitchen for it to work. My home was built in 1953, is tiny, and doesn't have anything newfangled like an automatic ice maker or dishwasher

I was reading the long thread about family cloth and noticed that to do that you need to wash in hot water... Well, I have a *really* basic washer that only has one cycle and washes in cold water. I'm expecting my first child in July, will definitely want to cloth diaper... I need a washer that does hot water! And I'd like a large capacity, high efficiency one that uses less water, too!

Additionally, my partner and I really need a new bed. We've been making do with my old double bed for a while now. A queen size bed sure would be nice... especially since we plan on bed-sharing the upcoming little one!

Your friend,
Darla
Plant City, Florida



Seriously folks, we're talkin thousands of dollars worth of household stuff. I don't even know where to start. I'm not one of these people who "needs" new items. I've been making do for a while and now all these big purchases have caught up with me all at once

[crl]

For appliances I suggest using Consumer Reports and the forums (look for the That Home Site link and for appliance forum and for laundry forum) at www.gardenweb.com to research. Also, the Sears website can be handy for getting an idea of cost and comparing various models. I've not been happy with Sears customer service so I don't personally recommend actually buying from them though.

Catherine

[marrymeflyfree]

One way you can save money on appliances is by purchasing floor models. We redid our kitchen last year, and replaced everything. We just decided which brands/models we were interested in and kept stalking all the big appliance stores until they were getting rid of those floor models. We paid less than half the regular retail price for every piece! Everything was still under the normal warranty, etc.

[beanma]

IKEA! We just got new appliances and new beds there. Fridges, in particular, vary hugely in price (from about $250 - $5000 or more), but look for Energy Star because I think you can get a tax credit for it now. If you're interested in an icemaker the little line needed for that is not a big deal. Its usually thin copper run through the back of the cabinets. You could probably DIY, but if not it would be a small, relatively inexpensive job for a pro. You might be able to get on one the washer, too.

[staceychev]

We got our fridge (and our stove as well) at a Sears scratch and dent warehouse. It was a 2K+ fridge and we got it for $900, plus the $50 for a new handle through the Sears parts website. Since you're looking for a basic model, you could probably get one for a few hundred dollars. I would think it'd be a good place for a washing machine too.

[ms.shell]

I second the floor model suggestion. When we moved to this house, my dp (he works at Lowe's) got us all new kitchen appliances, the Frigidaire professional line, super nice (stainless) stuff: brand new fridge, dishwasher, stove/oven, and big monster over the range microwave and paid only $600 for everything. Everything except the fridge was perfect, just floor models. The fridge has one small dent on the front, which is totally covered by a magnet. But the retail price on that fridge was about $3000....so he got an AMAZING deal on all that stuff by talking to the appliance salespeople and getting the floor models.

ALSO, i really recommend buying from Lowe's. DP also got a great deal in 2008 on a vaccuum. Well, it broke last month. We sure couldn't afford to buy another one right now, but we had to have one. So dp went over there to see what kind of deal he could get on a new one and the salesguy was like "didnt i just get you a deal on a vaccuum last year?" When dh said it broke, the guy said just bring it back and get a new one. We didn't have the box OR the receipt, and like i said, we have used it for more than a year. but they took it back and exchanged it for a brand new one anyway!
I just cant say enough good stuff about Lowe's customer service.
Good luck!

[smpayne]

On the washer - I would get the largest capacity you can afford. I would check craigslist for a washer. A lot of people are upgrading their washers or moving and you can usually find one that is about 5 years old for cheap. Use your money for a comfy, high quality bed.

Fridge - go for the Energy Star ones. Check with your utility company when thier rebate programs usually go into effect. They tend to run out of money at the end of each year, but will start up again the following year sometime.

I have a freezer drawer on the bottom and LOVE it. A friend just has a door on the bottom and the drawer is a definite plus. Make sure you measure the opening where your fridge goes. We had to re-do the kitchen to fit anything larger than 29" wide (1957 house). If it is up against a wall, side by side doors won't work real well.

Ditto on looking for floor models.

[Pinoikoi]

Since you have an older kitchen, I would make sure before you set your heart on a fridge model you love to take measurements of the space it needs to fit in. We used to live in a 50 year old home, and over the years, the average size of a fridge has GROWN. I had a tough time finding a new fridge that would fit in the space. I went to about 4 different places, and each one had one style that would fit. That's it. Then I wrote down those ones and was able to compare them from there..

I agree about stainless steel. I think it is a fad and makes fingerprints.

Do you have a hook up on your washer to a hot water line? You should have two lines back there. Perhaps you could just switch the line when washing diapers to the hot line?

Personally I would get the new fridge first. I thought our old fridge was working fine (lights worked, made appropriate noise, etc), but come to find out it was not (I guess it wasn't keeping things consistently cold) and we ended up getting sick. Not worth it.

[carseatqueen]

If you don't quite get to the washer before baby comes I wouldn't worry much. When baby is exclusively breastfeeding AND you can hang diapers to dry in the Florida sun you should't have a problem until you start solids.

Watch Tampa craigslist and you can probably get a good washer for around $50 if you aren't picky. I love my basic top loader washer (hot/warm/cold options) for diapers. I just can't justify spending hundreds on a washer, and when we move to our property we will have a well so I won't be paying for the water like I am now. Oh, and my DH van fix minor stuff on the more basic models.

*waves from just around the corner*

[noobmom]

I'd keep an eye out on Craigslist and Freecycle. You'd be surprised what people will get rid of...perfectly good, working appliances just because they have gotten new ones.

Also, you could try contacting your local appliance repair guy. Sometimes people decide they would rather get a new machine that pay to repair an old one--the shop guys will take them and repair them for resale.

The only thing I would definitely buy new is the mattress.

[tine1973]

I live about 10 minutes from a Sears Scratch and Dent (real name - Outlet Center) - its great! We get all appliances there.

[cristeen]

You've gotten good advice re: appliances. I will say though that re: beds, do your research on the chemicals contained in conventional mattresses. Check out Organic Grace for some great information, as well as good prices on safe beds.

I'd also never recommend a queen if you're planning on cosleeping. If you want to cosleep, get a King. I haven't slept next to my DH since our LO was born because we have a Queen and the 3 of us cannot work in the bed together. I know some people do it, but if you're going to be buying a new bed anyway, go all the way.

[Masel]

I got rid of an avocado colored fridge a couple years ago. Those old fridges are real energy hogs. Newer ones have more usable space since they have more efficient insulation. Start with the refrigerator.

[FloridaBorn]

I found out they opened a Sears Outlet in Tampa! Will definitely be checking that out this week.

I live in a small 1953 Florida bungalow. A king bed totally won't fit in our bedroom. I doubt there'll even be enough room to sidecar a crib.

[frugalmama]

lurking as we need a new dishwasher badly and I need a good deal on it

[noobmom]

Originally Posted by FloridaBorn

I found out they opened a Sears Outlet in Tampa! Will definitely be checking that out this week.

I live in a small 1953 Florida bungalow. A king bed totally won't fit in our bedroom. I doubt there'll even be enough room to sidecar a crib.

We've co-slept for 3 years in a queen. We sidecarred a crib for about 1.5 years (and loved it), but recently removed the crib and DS still fits between us. So, it's definitely doable if all three of you are thin enough. We even co-sleep on full sized beds when traveling, but I would never try to do that on a daily basis.