Financial question - thoughts on appliance options

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CradleJourney

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When it rains…sigh

The story:
Our range (oven) went out in Jan., but since the burners still worked, we decided to cut back on all “extra” expenses and allocate that money - along with some extra I was making by working more than my usual hours - to saving up to purchase a replacement. A little research found us a good model, with warranty and taxes to be about $500 - which would have taken us about 5 weeks. Not an ideal situation with four kids, but we have a crockpot and a microwave, so we figured we could do without for that long in exchange for having a new stove (this one’s approaching 20years old) and wouldn’t have to worry about it for several years. Sounds good right?

But as life happens, first one of our children created some unexpected costs so the savings got held up a couple weeks, then one of the vehicles needed repair so that ate into what was left of our appliance savings. So we started over - and even though the meals were getting repetitive, we figured we could manage.

Then hubby got laid off of work for four weeks (thankfully started a new job this week) but needless to say, nothing got added and what had been in there got put towards current expenses.

So we’d be back to square one - except (predictably) the 5yr old washing machine is now acting up and it’ll only work if you give it 2 to 3 days between loads and even then it makes a hideous noise. The warranty on it has expired - but we have the option of renewing the warranty for $175 for one year and then it’d be covered - however the renewal option expires in a couple days. A new washer that meets our needs will be around $800.

So - the question before us is what to do?

Options:
1) Stick with the plan. Crockpot and laudromat away until able to save up enough to replace them one at a time.

Advantage: new appliance, paid in fulll, no impact on our emergency savings account.

Disadvantage: can you fathom the amount of food / laundry we’re talking here? Plus additional costs for laundromat, gas, and food (inability to fix many of our staples due to lack of oven, buying more expensive items that are easier to microwave or ordering pizza).

**2)Spend the $175 to get the warranty **on the washer, hope it gets fixed properly and lasts more than the one year. Continue with above plan for stove replacement.

Advantage: Clean clothes again for all. No time/money wasted on laundromat. Solving one problem makes other more bearable.

Disadvantage: Would have to tap into emergency savings for the money, and if it can’t be fixed, they’d give us fair market value credit towards a replacement - but who knows how much that would be (and we’d have to spend the difference or lose the credit). The repair guys we’ve had have been good - but it take the company two weeks or more to schedule them to come out.

**3) Do the reverse of the above - buy the stove **with money from savings, then save up for a new washer after we’ve repaid the savings.

Advantage - baking / cooking again at last!!! Better food, better savings (food is about 30% of our budget - 3 teen/pre-teen boys), less stress in marriage.
And hey, we’ve made it two weeks now with a barely functional washer…the laundromat isn’t that bad a place to hang out, and all the clothes do get washed at once.

Disadvantage - get nervous about touching the emergency savings for anything. Job insecurity is real in my hubby’s line of work though he’s been working fairly steady for the last couple years. Once you spend the money, you can’t change your mind. And things happen to the best of plans as noted above. Plus loads of wet clothes sitting around waiting their turn in the dryer after being drug home from the laundromat.

4) Hey there’s always the internet - could, in theory, try researching online what’s wrong with each appliance, ordering replacement parts (if they still exist) and attempting a do-it-yourself fix.

Advantage - have working appliance(s) at lowest cash outlay. Hold us over till we can get the money for new.

Disadvantage - could spend the time and money and still not have anything to show for it. We’re okay putting together a bookcase but more than that…risky.

**5) Used appliance / Cheap appliance **- buy low cost.

Advantage - would theoretically have something that worked. Maybe even last for awhile.

Disadvantage - could find ourselves out the money and still be facing broken appliances in a very short period of time. Let’s face it - we’re hard on appliances - we do 2 extra large loads of laundry a day, and I can easily have that oven on for two to three times the “normal” amount of use. Quadruple that when I’m making things up ahead of time. Also, lets be honest - used can easily bring in a bug infestation as well shudder Lower end items are rarely energy efficient - and the last thing I need is higher costs for water / electricity as well.

I can - and have - lived without both of these appliances before, and can make do without them if I must. But there are real costs - in money, time, and stress for the entire family.

I don’t want to be fiscally irresponsible - but I also don’t want to be a martyr either. Obviously I can see both sides of each option. <3 my hubby but he’s just frustrated and feels it’s all on him for not earning enough so it’s difficult to brainstorm with him.

We have the basics paid and while we could cover one or the other of these from the emergency fund, I worry about what else might happen. On the other hand, there will always be something popping up to nibble at that appliance savings so part of me is beginning to despair of EVER getting working appliances again (didn’t I mention it’s been going on since JANUARY?!? A little beyond the original 5 week plan!) And due to life situation, a second job wouldn’t work for either of us - we did try thinking of that.

Anyway - thoughts, ideas, opinions?
 
I think this is an emergency, so I would encourage you to use your emergency fund and not feel bad about it. If it were me, I’d buy the washer and maybe wait on the range until finances improve, but you’ve been suffering quite a while, so that’s a counsel of perfection.

Do have a look at Consumer Reports (or whatever your local equivalent is) before buying. Ironically, it’s often the standard brands that are reliable work horses.
 
With four kids? Get out of the laundromat as soon as possible. You can eat rice and beans with apples for dessert forever, if you have to, but time spent in a laundromat is time you will never get back. I’m glad they exist, sometimes they’re necessary, but they’re far more practical on a regular basis for single people or couples who have time on their hands and a reading habit. For a family of six? I don’t know what your money situation is, but I know you’re short on time. (Besides, the cost per load at a laundromat is a money-making venture, and not a money-making venture for you.)

I have reservations on the warranty idea, because I am cynical about what warranties cover. As a long shot, I would take the model number of the appliance, use Google to find out what the “internet” name is for it, and search around to see if anyone else had that problem, what it cost to take care of it, and whether or not the problem was recurring.

For instance, when I used Google for KEBS207DBL4, I got to a parts web site for an oven with cracked glass. I found out how we could repair it ourselves on the Part Select web site partselect.com/Models/KEBS207DBL4/Instructions/?InstructionID=1617

That’s just one example, but you never know what you can find when you put an exact model number onto the internet. Sometimes, it has felt like the winning lottery number for your appliance. You can find the exact part number, you can find descriptions of the problem you’re having, you can hear from people that got good fixes and bad fixes. We have learned to change out the battery in a smart key (easy peasy), fixed broken oven glass, a broken ice maker, a dishwasher with a cracked hose, and an oven with a thermostat that can be re-set by going out to the fuse box and turning the power completely off and then back on again.

Life in the 21st century has its advantages for the DYIer and for the consumer. Make use of it! Then you’ll be a bit more informed about the chances that a fix will really be a fix.
 
You didn’t say if your stove was gas or electric. If it is electric the element is easily replaceable and cost around $50. 00 or so. I have done this myself.
 
I would use your emergency fund. Isn’t this an emergency?

I would get the warranty on the washer if they can successfully fix it. It is hard to live without a washer when you have kids. Laundromats are expensive if used often.

I would be nervous about a used washer but not so much about a good used range. Many people dispose of perfectly good kitchen appliances just because they are remodeling.
 
Do you have any friends in the Trades area.(or a friend of a friend)
Many appliances are replaced and discarded whilst still in great shape.
You could get a great Stove for a quarter of the price.(or less)

Get your washer repaired, at least you then have 12 months to save up again.
and in that time you will have saved far more than the $175, right.

Short term & to buy you more time,
can you use a BBQ where you are?(outside of course)
or bench top gas rings?(or both)
Someone you know will have a BBQ or the rings just sitting
in their garage not being used.
Just lend them for awhile and save for your stove.

Hope it all works out for you.
:tiphat:
 
  1. Eliminate internet and TV service. Together, these can easily add up to $100 per month. You can restore them later once you get your head above water. Meanwhile, you can use the library computers for internet, and check out some books to read for leisure.
Doing it yourself has a bad downside. Our 11-year-old dish washer needs new baskets. I priced the parts on line, and they added up to $350. New dish washers start around $400. Plus, if I did fix it myself, there is a great risk that something else will break inside the dish washer, wiping out my savings and costing more in the long run. There is no warranty for DIY work; new appliances come with a 1-year.

Hope this helps.
 
unstoppable_II said:
  1. Eliminate internet and TV service. Together, these can easily add up to $100 per month. You can restore them later once you get your head above water. Meanwhile, you can use the library computers for internet, and check out some books to read for leisure.
**Using library computers for internet is not quite as bad as the laundromat, but it’s in the same ballpark.

Also, the OP has a large family. Hauling all of one’s small children to the library so one can do one’s email is not really a great option. I know my email turns into a nightmare after only a day of neglect (much like the laundry, as a matter of fact).

Also, somebody at home probably needs internet for work. And these days, kids are expected to have internet for school projects and communications. Our school maintains a big website and instead of mailing out piles of papers like in ye goode olde dayes, they send out dozens of emails and provide grade, class and homework information on the school website. Without home internet, you’d be really up a creek.
**

Doing it yourself has a bad downside. Our 11-year-old dish washer needs new baskets. I priced the parts on line, and they added up to $350. New dish washers start around $400. Plus, if I did fix it myself, there is a great risk that something else will break inside the dish washer, wiping out my savings and costing more in the long run. There is no warranty for DIY work; new appliances come with a 1-year.

Hope this helps.
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DIY can be a huge money-saver if done judiciously (and with the help of the internet!).

My husband was recently able to figure out why our older dishwasher was deposing crud on our clean dishes. It was just a matter of making a slight adjustment and suddenly the sprayer was much more effective.

However, that said, when he was a teen he got a huge electric shock while attempting to fix a dishwasher, so definitely proceed with caution.
 
unstoppable_II said:
  1. Eliminate internet and TV service. Together, these can easily add up to $100 per month. You can restore them later once you get your head above water. Meanwhile, you can use the library computers for internet, and check out some books to read for leisure.
Click to expand...
I think eliminating cable TV can be very practical, but not Internet service. I am an intensely frugal person but I rely on Internet to make sure our bills are paid on time, for couponing and sales alerts, and to make a little side money. It would not be possible for me to use the library to do this, partly because I can’t keep track of children in a public space and use the computer effectively, and secondly because my #1 time to do all that stuff is while my children are sleeping.

Around here, it’s possible to get very good Internet service for $40/month or less.

I do use the library quite a lot, but I’m a fan of the “put it on hold and then pick it up at the desk” method (which also uses the Internet ;)), which requires much less time “in library” with young children who are still learning appropriate library behavior.
 
Purgatory_Pete said:
Short term & to buy you more time,
can you use a BBQ where you are?(outside of course)
or bench top gas rings?(or both)
Someone you know will have a BBQ or the rings just sitting
in their garage not being used.
Click to expand...
I’d consider borrowing a two-burner propane gas stove, if I had outdoor space to use it on. Lots of people who car-camp have one.
 
Xantippe said:
… when he was a teen he got a huge electric shock while attempting to fix a dishwasher, so definitely proceed with caution.
Click to expand...
If your oven is gas, I wouldn’t touch it with a 10-foot pole. If it’s not repaired properly, you could all wake up the next morning in front of the Pearly Gates.

A well-known consumer publication has put out a repair-or-replace timeline for appliances. It has since been removed from their website; however, I have a copy, and it says broken ranges [gas or electric], should be replaced after the 7-year point of their lifetime.

If you really need an oven, have you considered an inexpensive toaster oven to tide you over?
 
I’d prioritize the washing machine and check Craigslist or (less likely) your local Buy-Sell-Trade FB group. People are always moving and getting rid of things, especially this time of year. You can probably get a good-looking one for under $200; for under $100 if you’re lucky. Buy something that’s clean and they can show you it works. Use it until you can afford the one you want, then sell it on Craiglist at the same price you paid for it in the first place.

Then do the oven. Again, use it to get along until y’all are in a better place financially, and then sell it for the same price you paid for it, and buy what you really want.

The plus is that you have a good chance of getting your initial money back-- or, you might find that you’ve gotten used to them, and aren’t in a hurry to replace them after all.
 
Thank you all for the (name removed by moderator)ut!!!

Makes me feel much better knowing that this could be considered an emergency and I’m not completely fooling myself.

Of course, any decision will end up being a mutual one between hubby & me, but I like some ideas suggested and think I may be getting closer to being able to present some recommendations to him for us to discuss. (He hates it when I dither back and forth between pros & cons.)

To respond to a few points brought up:

We’ve been very frugal for the last few years as we try to get our finances in proper order. That’s the reason we’re able to have an emergency fund. 👍 No expensive cable or daily coffees or high speed internet here. 😃

It is an electric stove - but it seems to be in the electronic controls not the element so that makes it more difficult to fix.

While we do use our grill, we don’t want to spend too much on charcoal for it - and while someone out there may have the talent for roasting whole chickens, etc. we don’t seem to have the skill. (And prepping large quantities of food is what I miss most - we’d easily go thru a whole chicken, or two pans of lasagna or a large casserole…you get the idea. These boys are growing and they can eat! LOL!)

And yes, the time and expense of the laundromat is a big issue as well.

As a first step, if we’re both on board about using some of the emergency fund, I think we’ll start taking turns checking out the scratch and dent sections at the local stores - might run into a good bargain on one or the other appliance.

And I’m going to try running the model numbers online and seeing what comes up as repair suggestions (maybe the washer’s problem is an easy fix?)

Thanks again for helping me sound this all out. 👍
 
:)I would not try to fix a gas stove either, but the cooking elements are really easy to fix as the just pull out and you replace them with a new element.😃
 
CradleJourney said:
So we’d be back to square one - except (predictably) the 5yr old washing machine is now acting up and it’ll only work if you give it 2 to 3 days between loads and even then it makes a hideous noise. The warranty on it has expired - but we have the option of renewing the warranty for $175 for one year and then it’d be covered - however the renewal option expires in a couple days. A new washer that meets our needs will be around $800.
Click to expand...
I’m a little surprised that a 5 year old washing machine has given up. Do you know anyone that could take a look at it? Maybe it is something pretty simple. So rather than replacing the entire machine, it could be that a cheap part would put it on the right track.
 
When my oven decided to die on Thanksgiving–it was new and had a bad gasket, so the steam boiled its little electronic brains–I borrowed a tabletop convention oven. It only does one 9x13 pan at a time, but if you have a crockpot full of side dish you can do something that contrasts in the convection oven. I also use a tabletop convection oven to cook outside when the weather is hot.

You might also like to think about other appliances that would come in handy as stopgaps. Two more that come to mind are an electric skillet–fried chicken, anyone?–and an electric griddle, not to mention a rice cooker. You can do all sorts of things with these appliances, and lots of people have one gathering dust in their cupboard, begging to be borrowed. My mom also used to make all sorts of things in her electric dutch oven (aka roaster oven), another appliance that people have and don’t use except at Thanksgiving.
Mary_Estelle said:
:)I would not try to fix a gas stove either, but the cooking elements are really easy to fix as the just pull out and you replace them with a new element.😃
Click to expand...
You just never know. Gas isn’t a nuclear explosion waiting to happen. You have to make sure there aren’t leaks, but if you learn where to be careful, it isn’t a huge deal. An informed amateur can install a gas range. As for electrical stuff, it depends on what is wrong. Sometimes the fix is to take out a whole component that lifts out and re-installs in a very straight-forward way. Or you find that four other people replaced this same component two or three times and think the appliance is a piece of garbage.

I don’t put too much weight in one single complaint, and I take all internet complaints and rave reviews alike with a grain of salt, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take any hints about how to handle your problem from your sense of other people who have gone through something similar. The great thing is that when somebody finds a DIY fix of something they thought was the end of their appliance, they like to tell others about it.

The best is to find that two or three different people have put a DIY video of your exact problem on YouTube, and one of them is some public television expert like Bob Vila.
 
For us, a major appliance that we use every day is an emergency that needs to be taken care of immediately.
This includes Fridge, oven, washer/dryer, cars, dishwasher and computer.

One of two things will happen…emergency fund will be dipped into directly and repairs will be paid in full or we use our Sears card and just buy brand new and pay it off as fast as we can (usually within a few months of purchase).

Usually it’s the cars that get the direct emergency fund treatment and the major appliances that we use our card for.

We’ve tried to call in repair people to fix issues on major appliances…both the dryer and dishwasher have given us issues.

We had success with the dishwasher but no success with the dryer. The dryer ended up lasting only 3 years and that was with a repair man fix.
It was a used dryer we got when we first purchased the house because we were dirt poor at the time and still needed some major items for our new home.

So, when the dryer kicked the bucket a second time…my husband just went out and got a new one immediately.

I would never consider waiting on something we actually need in our house.

I can imagine some people muttering that I could just hand wash dishes for a little while until we’ve saved enough to make a paid-in-full purchase.

Well, were either using the money to be set aside to wait until we make the purchase or repairs (that may or may not work) or were just using that same money to pay down a credit card we use for emergencies to begin with…and I have a new appliance.

Convenience is a huge factor to my sanity while being a stay-at-home mom for a growing family of 5.
The least my husband can do for me is make sure I have the tools to get things done around the house without worry or issue.

No way would I ever consider dragging my 8 month pregnant self, with a 3 year old and a 20 month old to the laundromat to do laundry.
It’s a total waste of money and time to begin with…let alone with several little kids in tow.

Nor would I consider dragging said kids to a library to check my e-mail and do banking transactions or school work on a computer. I would bring them to the library to enjoy without added stressors on my back.

Nor would I rely on a hot plate, microwave and toaster oven to cook a meal for a big family.

I’m all for cutting out luxury items to save money.

We don’t have cable TV or smart phones.

But there are definitely things that I can say I need and have no issue spending the money to fix or replace within a day or two.
 
I would want the range back before the washer, but I lived off of laundry mats for a long time. I actually think laundry went faster when I did, because I was able to wash all the clothes at once instead of having to do loads. It’s getting really expensive though!
 
Thirty years ago my uncle, God rest his soul, gave me the best advice. Simple is better. When we moved into this house 8 years ago I bought an Americana electric stove for $115 at home depot and its the best stove I have ever had in my 30+ years of marriage. Only drawback is the digital clock timer. They didn’t have one with an analog clock. We also purchased a fridgedaire no frills dishwasher, still going strong. No electronic settings.

My parents were always upgrading their washer dryer set. Whenever they saw a newer set at a garage sale/moving sale they would buy it and sell their old set the next weekend. I purchased a dryer from new neighbors for $25. A simple hotpoint brand. They moved in and the house had a gas connection for the dryer, the one they sold me was electric. That lasted 10yrs. Then I found a 1yr old replacement for $100. An elderly woman was moving in with her son and they sold it at a garage sale. The deals are out there, you just have to be on the lookout for them.
 
I agree that this constitutes a just reason to use the emergency fund.

My only other advice would be to avoid paying for the warranty. Odds are it won’t cover whatever problem your washer has and/or you’ll have to pay a high deductible and/or it’ll only temporarily fix the problem. Then you’re out two or three hundred dollars that could have gone towards a new machine. I’m okay with the diy approach or hiring someone to fix it or buying a new or used washer or even washing the clothes in the tub, but I would absolutely not pay $175 for an extended warranty with no guarentee that it will address the problem.
 
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