Cheat Sheet on Buying New Appliances

I love Consumer Reports Magazine.  They are chocked full of great information.  They give you the nitty gritty about what you should know before you buy and test products to make sure the consumer is getting more bang for their buck.  In this months mag, they touch on kitchen and bath remodels and of course my fav, a little DIY.  They talk about the effects of the declining economy and why now 2/3 of the population is focusing on saving instead of splurging and doing DIY projects themselves versus outsourcing.  With that said, I’ve included a cheat sheet below on ways you can save money on your next appliance purchase thanks to the magazine and also a DIY project for your existing fridge that can save you thousands of dollars.   Recently on an AOL Living clip of mine, I showed how to salvage an old refrigerator using a little appliance spray paint.  This is definitely one of my favorite projects and the one I get asked the most questions about.    Keep in mind, before you spend thousands of dollars on new appliances you can invest less than $10 to give your appliances a completely different look simply by spraying them.  Check out my clip here or skim below for some tips on buying new appliances and saving a little cash-o-la.

CHEAT SHEET: WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY APPLIANCES

1.  Start by researching online.  Amazon.com seemed to beat out everybody in terms of price, selection and quality.

2.  Order off the website and pick it up at the store will save on shipping costs.

3.  Sign up for email alerts online, which allow stores and manufacturers to let you know when things are on sale. For instance, during the “Maytag Month” in May you could get up to $500 in mail in rebates.

4.  To find the best prices go to PriceGrabber.com.  Print out coupons and take them to competitors to see if they will honor them.  As an example, Home Depot will beat a competitors price by 10%.

5.  Get your haggle on and try negotiating on the price.   By researching your product  and the competitors prices, you can walk the walk in the haggle department.  Paying cash is also a great bargaining tool with independent stores.

6.  Skip the extended warranties.  Chances are your appliance wont break within the warranty period.

7.  Go to Energystar.gov and click on appliances to see what rebates are offered for people who buy Energy Star Qualified Appliances.

**This photo was House Beautiful’s Kitchen of the Month April 2009

Photographer: Eric Piasecki

10 Ways to Decorate Using $10 or less

1.  Use leftover wallpaper or drawer liner to cover books, create art, back bookcases or even laminate to create placemats for the kids.

2. White tape can create cool graphic designs on walls and furniture without the worry of measurements or mess ups.

3.  Investing in low wattage light bulbs and dimmer switches can save you money and accentuate your design.

4. Chalkboard paint is fun and functional. Plus you can make it any color you choose!

5. Ribbon is perfect for bookcases, lampshades and curtains to dress them up and give them a different look.  For an even more dramatic look, go for a black shade, with a white ribbon.

6.  Making a valance out of a table runner can dress up a window and the best part is you don’t even have to know how to sew!

7.  A can of spray paint is gold to interior designers and diy’ers!  It can transform any piece into a masterpiece!

8. Stencils are universal.  They can be used to create the look of wallpaper on a wall, a printed curtain or even a rug on a floor.

9. Appliance spray paint can save you thousands of dollars.  Take that old white fridge and paint it black.  It will allow you time to live with the old one and save up for the new one.

10.  Look to thrift stores, flea markets and the internet for deals on furniture and home decor pieces.  Chances are you’ll love it so much more that you didnt have to pay full price!