Money Saving Appliances

It’s always nice to have some help when it comes to saving money. Here are some appliances that have helped us along the way.

Chest Freezer – After the freezer we inherited from Jason’s grandmother died, we made the investment in the less convenient but more energy-efficient chest style freezer that we store in our garage. Every time a good sale comes on chicken, beef, frozen dinners, ice cream, pretzels, pizza rolls, etc., we can purchase a large amount to be stored in the freezer. When cheese goes on sale (a dollar for an 8-ounce bag), we buy several dozen bags and bricks and store them, and it works beautifully. We’ll also make way too much chili and freeze most of it for an easy winter supper. Not only does this allow us to take greater advantage of sales at the store, but it is so fun and convenient to go “shopping” on a weekend for things to defrost for the week. It saves trips to the store, which saves on time, gas, and those inevitable impulse purchases that follow almost any trip.

Toaster Oven – When you just need enough food for two, it’s much more efficient to heat up a small toaster oven than the full sized oven. We will make a full batch of cookie dough, shape it into 1-inch balls, and freeze them. Then, we’ll bake just 4-6 in the toaster oven whenever we have a sweet tooth to satisfy. It gives us fresh-baked taste anytime we’re in the mood for it, it keeps us from overindulging, and we save money by making one batch of cookies last for weeks. The toasting feature can also jazz up a boring cheap sandwich, make easy garlic bread, and create a first-rate nacho plate.

Espresso Machine – It doesn’t take very many lattes to recoup the cost of a high-quality espresso machine over the cost of buying your caffeine fix from your favorite local barista. Plus, it can be used for hot ciders, hot cocoa, steamers, etc. The possibilities are endless and tons of fun.

Although these appliances are money savers, they definitely fall into the “wants” rather than the “needs” category. That means you can really take your time to find a great deal, use a coupon, and try to haggle your way down to the lowest price you can. To be honest, two of the three appliances listed above were birthday presents for us from Jason’s family, so you can even see if Santa is willing to help you save money.

What do you have around the house that saves you money? Please let us know in the comment section below.