Five Ways to Save Money on Things that Break Down in your House
Modern appliances make everyday life much easier, but we get so used to using them that when they break down they can create a serious headache. Having broken appliances and things in the home can make doing chores twice as long. You may not have the extra money in your budget to get new replacements for broken or malfunctioning household items. For those on a tight budget, there are a variety of ways to save money on household appliances.
Buy a Used Replacement
You may think that buying a new appliance is a more affordable option, but you might be surprised by the benefits of buying used. Shops that sell used household items usually ensure that the items work and have been properly maintained. Some may even come with a warranty. Often, people who are moving away or upgrading often list their used appliances on sites like Craigslist or local newspaper sites. You can find a great deal on a used appliance that will perform just as well as a new one without the added cost.
Take It to the Shop
Find a repair shop that specializes on household appliances. For example, you could take your appliance into the service center of the store you bought it at. If your warranty is up, you can often save by trying your local mom and pop repair shop as well. You’ll save time and money by trusting professionals to repair your items rather than possibly making it worse by attempting the repair yourself if you aren’t handy with tools.
Attempt a DIY Repair
If you’re handy with tools, then consider fixing small repair issues by yourself. While you may not be able to restore serious mechanical issues, you may be able to educate yourself on basic repairs. Check online for videos and DIY tips before you start so you can familiarize yourself with the subject. You may need to buy extra parts, for example if your mixer breaks down you can get genuine KitchenAid replacement parts at the Mending Shed. Buying new parts often makes for an easy fix and is much less expensive than replacing the entire unit.
Evaluate Your Need
Before you spend money on replacement items, consider whether you need the things that are breaking down. How often do you use them? Can you get by without them? Experiment with your household appliances to see how many of them you really use. You may be surprised to find that you don’t need as many as you think. Cut down on usage to save on overall costs.
Use Creative Alternates
If you can’t work out a solution and still need your items, then try swapping out broken appliances for creative alternates. Most tasks that are done with a food processor can be done with a simple blender. Exchange and combine tasks using alternate appliances to save energy and money. For example, how often do you use your meat slicer? Will using a basic knife really take too much more time? And your standard often can often do all the same jobs that you used your toaster oven for. You may find that getting more creative and using items for multiple purposed can save you time and de-clutter your kitchen shelves.
You don’t need to spend a lot of time or money to get better use out of your household items. Invest in quality products to begin with to enjoy the most life out of your appliances. When they start to break down, opt for professional repairs and DIY maintenance. You’ll save a lot of stress and money by thinking outside the box.
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Category: Home Improvements, Saving Money
