An inviting kitchen can make a house feel like a home. It’s a place that brings people together in the mornings, even when you’re still half asleep. It’s a communal space where you can gather with your roommates after a long day at work or school. It’s also a kitchen oasis where you make delicious smoothies in the blender, heat up leftovers in the microwave, and toast homemade bread in the toaster. On a budget? Here’s how to save money and still get the great kitchen appliances you want and need.
Set a Budget
Before you do anything, you need set a reasonable budget. Setting a budget gives you an idea of your price range and helps you know what is realistic to buy. It makes your search easier because you know your specifications, in terms of pricing. You can rule out appliances that are outside of your budget and narrow down your options. Try starting with a price range and give yourself a little wiggle room in case you find the perfect appliance but it’s slightly over your budget. You can always compensate by adjusting your budget for another item.
Do Your Research
Just like any other big purchases, you will want to do your research. Yes, we know research doesn’t sound fun, but you’ll thank us later when you know whether or not you’re getting a good deal. Too often, people go into a big purchase without doing their research and they end up getting ripped off by paying relatively too much for something. Make sure you research competitor’s prices, warranties, sales, and the features of each appliance. If you need to save some money, consider reducing the number of extra or added features that you want your kitchen appliances to have.
Mix and Match
It’s very common for kitchen appliance manufacturers to sell their appliances in sets. This is supposed to make it easier for the customers to buy appliances because they come from the same brand, but that doesn’t mean it’s easier on your wallet. Sometimes it may be cheaper to buy single appliances from different manufacturing companies. Make sure to look at them in person because sometimes images online may not be the same color finish as it appears in person.
Know When to Buy
Manufacturing companies typically release their new appliance models in September, October, and January. Luckily for us customers, this means that these companies are trying to get rid of last year’s appliances around this time and could have significant sales.
Additionally, keep in mind the time of the year and the season. For example, huge sales typically occur on major holidays, such as Black Friday and Labor Day. Towards the end of the month, more specifically the last few days, items tend to go on sale in stores; since they want to meet monthly quotas, stores tend to mark items down slightly.
Ask about Price-Matching
Often, people shop at specific stores for a variety of reasons. Maybe you really like the customer service at one store over another, or maybe you get better credit card rewards points a a certain retailer. Whatever the reason, you can always ask if that store price-matches. If you find the kitchen appliance you want at one store for a great price, but your favorite store sells it for a little more, ask what their price-matching policy is. You might get a great deal without having to shop at a different store.
Be Patient and Smart
Now that you know when the best times to buy are, you know when stores will be offering great deals. If you can, try to plan around these times to get the cheapest deals. If you have the time, be patient and wait for appliances to go on sale so you can save some money. If you can’t wait and you just have to buy it now, make sure you’re being smart and doing your research ahead of time. Getting the kitchen appliances you need for your home or apartment doesn’t have to be expensive if you follow some of these helpful tips.
This article was updated on 8/29/18.
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