The hallmarks of a functional kitchen will always relate to the quality of your appliances. And whether you are looking to remodel your kitchen, or you need to make a few swaps, the items will always provide a key focus. But what are the things that they don’t tell you that can help you when you are upgrading your kitchen, but also save some money while you are at it?
Know When You Bought Your Appliances
When you purchase appliances, they will always have a certain lifespan. When you look at something like a fridge, you have to remember that the life expectancy is around 13 years. Dishwashers, on the other hand, only last around 9 years. But if the item is not doing what it should be doing, it needs to be replaced. And when it comes to the life expectancy of items, sometimes a simple service will be all it needs. Check out the Fridgeworks guide on if it’s time to service your fridge if you aren’t sure.
Check it Fits Through the Door
Practically speaking, you’ve got to make sure that the item can actually fit in your new kitchen. This means measuring the area where you will put the new appliance. And the old carpentry saying, “measure twice, cut once” comes to mind here. When it comes to something like your refrigerator, it’s not just about the space, but about taking into account the swing of the fridge door. If an item doesn’t fit through the door, and you’ve already paid for the trouble of moving and installing the item, you will have a few more expenses, namely repairing a busted door frame!
The 50/50 Rule When it Comes to Replacing or Repairing
Sometimes, we want to try and make the appliance last as long as possible. And if something goes wrong with it, you may wonder if you should just get rid of it and start again with something new. And the 50/50 rule is always a good test in this respect. If the appliance is over halfway through its lifespan, and it will only cost half as much to repair it as it would to replace it, you may as well get a new item. Sometimes, we can think that we’ve got to make the most of an item because we invested a significant amount of money, but if it is a headache-inducing time trying to repair an item, a newer model might save you money, but it might also be beneficial for the planet.
Buy the New Appliances at the Right Time
When you are upgrading your appliances, it’s about choosing the right time. Picking a new model is not necessarily about getting the latest item. The best time if you want to save some money is to buy an older appliance model just after the latest one has been released, as they will very likely discount the older items. But also think about holidays, as well as popular holidays like Black Friday.
Upgrading your appliances should not be a headache, but if you are looking to save some money and improve the look of your kitchen, it’s definitely worth trying some of these approaches.
