By Maria Rainier
Major appliances and household items are not cheap. Depending on what you need, you can end up spending your entire paycheck on just one single item. No wonder sites like Craigslist—which is essentially an online garage sale—seem so appealing. You can buy used furniture and appliances for a fraction of the original store price.
While there are certainly some bargains to be found, there are particular items that you should always aim to buy new. For example, a washer and dryer set can set you back if purchased new at the store, but if you purchase a used set it can set you back far worse. This is because washer and dryers are super sensitive—any forceful movement during pickup or drop off can damage the appliance and make it stop working and it’s difficult to know if they were actually working in the first place just by looking. And if they are working why is someone getting rid of it? In tough times why would someone get rid of working appliances? And unfortunately, you aren’t always offered a warranty when you purchase from individuals. So you may just be buying someone elses headaches.
Used mattresses are never a good idea to buy used either. This is because despite what you may think, mattresses do not generally have a lifespan of more than 5 years. Over time, mattresses absorb sweat and skin flakes and begin to sag and conform to the user’s shape. Not to mention it’s hard to determine whether a mattress is infested with bed bugs from a photo online. For this reason many donation sites won’t even take used mattresses.
Ok, you get the idea. Some items are worth purchasing new. But that doesn’t mean that buying new has to make you go broke. With some time and effort, you may just be able to purchase a brand spanking new appliance or some furniture still within your budget simply using the power of Google Shopping. I’ve used it on several occasions and it completely eliminates the hassle of having to go from store-to-store and searching through circulars to find the best (and cheapest deal). How? Your first step is to click on the “shopping” tap on the Google Home Page. It should be simply located at the top, but some browsers make you click the “more” tab and then scroll down to the “shopping” tab. Type in what you’re looking for in the search box i.e. refrigerator, washer and dryer—whatever your heart desires. You can search by brand too.
Google will use your IP address to determine your location and then give you a listing of that item sold in your area—both from brick- and-mortar stores near you and online stores. Cheapest prices will come up first. Click on the item and it will compare prices of the same merchandise sold in other stores. It will also give you the final cost with tax and shipping included. Often, the cost of shipping is waived entirely if purchasing online.
Granted, the cheapest product isn’t always the best way to go. The next step is to read the reviews so that you can get a better idea of how the item measures up. Your last step is to check sites that offer coupons like Couponcabin —you may only get an additional $20 off, but that every $20 helps.
Do you have any other online saving shopping tips? We’d love to hear them just enter them in the comments section below.