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White goods: 5 appliances you should ALWAYS splurge on
We all love a bargain, but just like key furniture around the home – sofa, bed, dining table etc. – when it comes to appliances, there are some we should always be willing to spend on.
Here, Prominence Support, who offer cover for mechanical and electrical breakdowns, counts down the five white goods that should never be bought on the cheap. But of course, when you shop is just as important as where you shop, so we've also got tips from Anna Lavfors, Consumer Expert at PriceRunner, the UK’s leading independent price comparison site, about the best time to buy white goods so that you can still make some good savings in your home. Here's why it pays to invest in good-quality appliances...
Washing machine
A key appliance for every home and utility room, when buying a washing machine you'll want to consider how durable they are, how easy they might be to fix should anything go wrong, and if they are environmentally friendly, says Prominence Support. A cheap washing machine is more likely to score poorly on each of these points. Even more so, they're likely to break down sooner, so saving on the initial purchase may mean you are paying out for a replacement before long. The same applies to tumble dryers.
When to buy? According to Anna, August is the best time to buy a new washing machine, with 25 out of 50 of the most popular machines having lower prices than average. Wait until this year's Black Friday sale (27th November 2020) for a second chance to get a great price. Bear in mind, September and October are more expensive than average – so wait if you can.
For tumble dryers, price history shows that December, January and February are the cheapest month to by one.
Oven
If you’re a family of food lovers and you like to cook every day, buying a cheap oven could add a lot of unnecessary stress and additional hours onto mealtimes in your kitchen, which of course, no one wants. Prominence Support reminds households that a cheap oven with a higher tendency for faults and breakdowns could leave you without the ability to cook for a substantial period, disrupting your daily routine and racking up an expense.
When to buy? PriceRunner reveals that the best time to buy an oven is December and January. Three out of four ovens are lower than the average price (calculated over a 12-month period): 'When looking at the 50 most popular ovens, there are huge price differences on identical ovens – on average 39 per cent difference between highest and lowest price on the same product.'
Fridge
Buying a cheap fridge could run the risk of higher food shopping costs, as it may not keep your produce as fresh as a high-quality product. If you choose a good-quality fridge, it's guaranteed to last for years to come – a broken fridge can mean a lot of food wastage if a quick repair is not possible.
When to buy? Anna says you should avoid purchasing a new model in the summer if you're looking to get the best price. December and January are the best months to buy a fridge.
If you're looking for a fridge freezer, you can grab a bargain during Black Friday and Boxing Day sales. September and October and the most expensive months and prices are increased up to Black Friday.
Dishwasher
If you buy a cheap dishwasher you are likely to sacrifice many of the handy options offered by more expensive products, such as lower temperature washes for delicate glassware, child locks, and silent modes. 'What’s more, as with any cheap appliance you run the risk of being saddled with an unreliable product needing frequent repairs or replacement parts, which can be difficult to source in older models,' advise the team at Prominence Support.
When to buy? September, October, November and December are great months for buying dishwashers, says Anna, in particular November and December when almost all of the 50 most popular machines have a price lower than average. But, avoid purchasing in spring as price history insights show that costs are high.
Boiler
'Your boiler is your principal source of heat and comfort at home, making it vital to invest in a good-quality product. Cheap boilers are often not very efficient, meaning you could be faced with expensive energy bills,' says Prominence Support. Cheap boilers also often come with shorter warranty periods and can be a noisier and bulkier presence in the home than pricier models.
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