Although I'm spending a lot today, I'll be saving a lot in the long run
By reinydawn
@reinydawn (11643)
United States
January 24, 2009 10:18pm CST
Ever since we've moved into this house - 4 1/2 years ago - I have hated the refridgerator. It's a side-by-side and it's been "repaired" two or three times. Everything in the fridge part that's up against the freezer wall freezes and anything else (except the veggies) goes bad. The veggies freeze also. We've been looking at a new fridge - the kind with the freezer on the bottom - for a couple years. Today we went out and looked again - and finally bought one. It's not the top of the line, but it's still pretty expensive.
While we were there, we also looked at washer and dryers. Ours are probably as old as the house - 30+ years - and they suck up a lot of electricity. So we looked at the High Effeciency units. And bought a set. Again, not the top of the line, but still kinda pricy.
All in all, we spent about what we figured we would. We know we wont recoup our cost back right away, but between the energy star ratings for all three appliances, we're going to be saving a bit on our electric bill every month. I can't wait for them to be delivered on Tuesday!
3 people like this
6 responses
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
25 Jan 09
We need to go have the same exact shopping day that you had today. Was it fun? I'm liking the bottom drawer freezers too. I know that my frig and w/d are as old as my house, 21 years.
Everyday I think about the energy we would be saving with the new ones. It just keeps getting moved up and down the priority list. I hope we are not surprised by one of them breaking down and forced into a decision before I know for sure what I want.
Hmmm, maybe should move it back up the list a bit.
2 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
25 Jan 09
We have been looking at the fridges for about 2 years. We decided today that if they can give us 18 months with no interest, we're getting it. And that's what we got. Since we wanted the washer/dryer too, we put it all on the same plan. This way we can put the money aside for 18 months and pay it off in full when the 0% is up. Kinda like a reverse savings plan... This should be the last major appliance we need to purchase though...
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
28 Jan 09
Are the washer and dryer front loaders? My daughter has the freezer on the botton and the only problem with that is she has to bend down to get the ice out of the ice maker she did not get one with the ice in the door. I would like to get one with ice in the door.
We need to get energy start appliances but can not afford to buy them right now. I am hoping this business deal goes through and we will be making money soon. I am waiting for a phone call at 6AM this morning to move forward with the project. It is coming together well. Once I know more I will be shouting it off the roof tops as to what it is.
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
29 Jan 09
Yes, they are front-loaders. I can't wait to start using them. I got the detergent in the mail today, but the dryer isn't hooked up yet. I'm going to do all that tomorrow.
So far, I love the fridge. I don't use the ice much so that's not really an issue for me. Most of what we use are veggies and fruit and now I don't have to bend for them - or the dressings either.
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
1 Feb 09
SURE!!! C'mon out!!! Bring lots of clothes :)
Of course we're going to have to make use of the freezer part too and have a few frozen margaritas :)
1 person likes this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
1 Feb 09
When are going to invite me over to do laundry while we eat a nice salad?
1 person likes this
@kareng (55265)
• United States
25 Jan 09
Awesome and congratulations on all your new appliances. I know how aggravating a refrigerator can be. We had one that would go into automatic defrost mode whenever it felt like it and we would come home to water all over the kitchen floor. This happened numerous times and after that, we bought a standard refrigerator without any bells and whistles--just an icemaker. I don't miss that old one at all! It was nice when the kids were small and kept them from going in and out of the refrigerator for ice and water. It had both ice and water in the door. I hope you enjoy all your new stuff!
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
25 Jan 09
Thank you! I am really looking forward to them. And to the (hopefully) decrease in our utility bills!
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
3 Feb 09
We insulated the attic the first year we were here - that helped A LOT! Slowly but surely we're getting everything in shape here.
1 person likes this
@kareng (55265)
• United States
2 Feb 09
I know what you mean! We just bought an old house with NO insulation and no heating system other than air/heat strip window units. Our bill was almost $400 for December. We cut back on little things and the next one for January was about $50 less, thank goodness. I can't take too many months of this! I'm hoping I won't be still saying this in the summer!!
1 person likes this
@moondancer (7433)
• United States
25 Jan 09
I felt the same way about my frig and washer and dryer they were not what I wanted. Since we had just bought the house I paid $13k down on the home and I didn't save a cent to buy new appliances that I wanted. The house wass just 5 years old so the appliances were not old not enough for me to buy new ones.
I bought new one no long ago and just love them. This after dealing iwht the others in the home for 12 years.
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
25 Jan 09
moondance - Our house was pretty old and I think the appliances may have even been the original ones.
sghunake - electricty here in the US has been on a steep and steady cimb for the last couple years. Our bills have doubled at some times of the year. We're trying to replace as many old appliances as possible with energy efficient ones to help in this area. It's also better for the environment if we can use less electricity.
@moondancer (7433)
• United States
25 Jan 09
I know what you mean mine were here from the home when it was new imagine my surprise when I needed work on the washer to find out that the frig and stove are older much older than the home. They were like 20 years old. He said they buy them in bunches and put them into the homes when they are made.
I couldn't believe it the stuff I thought to be 15 years old was at least 25.
I was glad to be rid of the ones I've changes for a few reasons, looks, age, and electric bills as ours goes up more than double every year too.
1 person likes this
@sghunake (3)
• India
25 Jan 09
SINCE discussion is started for the long term saving of electricity and use of appliances, i would like to know how much is the per unit cost of electricity and how much bill generally comes on per month basis.whether any problem of power cuts are there in your countries.
In india mainly fridge is one of the important household item, which forms a great part of life.
1 person likes this
@terri0824 (4991)
• United States
28 Jan 09
Cool you got new washer and dryer too. It's always nice to get new appliances and especially if it will help save on the electric bill to boot.
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
29 Jan 09
That would be so cool if it made a huge difference, but it will over time not right away.
@suzzy3 (8342)
•
25 Jan 09
So it is all happening tuesday good for you,those old appliances really eat the elesctric you should see some saving every month we did when we renewed everything in actual fact the electric company came and checked our meter as our bills went down to see if we were fiddling we already had double glazing which reduced out bill by a third then all the new appliances really got them worked up.It is always nice to get new things for the home it brightens up the place and they are easier to clean ,I find my stainless steel side by side fridge freezer really shines when I polish it my old white one was just clean if you know what I mean.If you get a high effeciency cooker beware the hotplate are really quick and the veg boil so fast,I have had to clean up quite a lot of mess till I got used to it,Ceramic hobbs look lovely when they are clean but are murder once you let your milk or custard boil over.Hope it goes well.x
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
25 Jan 09
We have gas stovetop so that's not going to get replaced. Eventually, I would like new ovens - I have 2 wall ovens, one on top of the other. But that's not happening any time soon. They are in great shape and truth be told, I don't use them that often.
