Looking to buy a washer and dryer in the near future, but want to make sure you purchase the cheapest one?
Well, a number of model combinations could qualify to be the cheapest washer and dryer. It just depends on how you judge this metric. For example, are you talking about the sticker price for these machines? Maybe you’re only considering the annual costs for electricity and water.
If you’re only wondering about the latter, then, in general, you want to go with the versions that are fueled by gas. Despite what a lot of people think, electric models cost a lot more where your utilities are concerned. While some electric washers and dryers may win out against some gas-fueled models, this general rule holds.
Now, if you want to save money on the upfront fee, we suggest you check out sites like Craigslist. eBay isn’t a bad option, but unless you find machines nearby (and have the means to transport these large machines), you’ll have to pay an exorbitant amount for shipping and handling.
There are other ways you can bring down the price for owning a washer and dryer, too. After all, doing laundry takes a number of steps, each of which you can alter.
For one, you can just use cold water for every type of load. This can save you about $00.30 a load, which will really add up over the course of a year. If you have a family, you probably do at least 200 loads a year, which would mean a savings of $60. That could cover your detergent purchases.
Speaking of which, try exploring your options for detergent. There are plenty out there that don’t have fantastic brand awareness but also cost about half as much as those that do. The $60 you saved by using only cold water could be enough to pay for all your detergent for an entire year.
If you have a yard, line drying might be worth trying for much of your clothing. You could save $00.40 a load with this change. That’s another $80 back in your bank account.
Many people who do this also learn to prefer the all-natural method. Your clothes will smell amazing and even feel softer.
Of course, there are also plenty of high-efficacy models out there these days, as we touched on earlier. While they’ll cost more upfront, they’ll not only save you money, they’re also more environmentally friendly.
If you’re in the market for a washer and dryer and want to make sure you respect your budget, consider the above options before spending a single penny.
Sources:
http://www.moneycrashers.com/save-money-laundry-costs/
http://www.thesimpledollar.com/a-cost-comparison-of-home-laundry-and-laundromats/
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/average-cost-hour-run-dryer-68320.html