When to save and when to splurge… appliances, edition

I am not the type of person who has to have the latest and the greatest to keep up with the Joneses. I am, however, the type of person who looks at buying quality over quantity when it comes to household items. I love finding a deal and trying to save money when I can, but I have learned where to do that, and we’re not to do that. Kitchen appliances can make your life easier, and they can be fun... just know what your going to use, and what will take up room.

When it comes to certain appliances, here’s a breakdown on when to splurge, and when to save.

Kitchen small appliances

Splurge

Blender- Vitamix

Mixer -KitchenAid

Pressure cooker - Insta pot

Toaster oven

Air fryer

Juicer

Save

Crockpot

Emulsion blender

Electric knife

Rice cooker

Plug in griddle

Breadmaker

Above are the items in my kitchen, where I have splurged and saved, and here are the reasons why:

It’s simple some companies just make better products. For example, the Vita-mix and the KitchenAid. Both of these products I have had for so many years with zero problems. My KitchenAid I received at my bridal shower 23 years ago and my vita mix I have had for at least 14 years both of these items get used a lot in my home and their quality motor is still running.

On the save side things there are items like my bread maker I purchased in college. Yes, I am the type of person that had a bread maker in college. I worked and went to school and had a social life but when I came home, my roommates appreciated the smell of fresh bread that filled the house. A bread maker is super simple to use. You just put in 4 ingredients, hit a button and walk away. This is what mine looks like and she has made so many loaves of bread.

The griddle that plugs in is a must have for any household. These can be as low as $19.99 and I use it probably three times a week. I do have a griddle in my stove, however, I do not use it. Why do you ask? Because it is a pain in the butt to clean. The plug-in griddles are so easy you simply unplug it, set it in the sink and give it a quick wash and rinse, dry it off and put it away. It’s a huge timesaver and they are very inexpensive.

These are just a few examples of my splurges and my saves. You do not need to buy the top-of-the-line best of everything. There are some items that I had splurged on in the past only to find that the inexpensive option worked just as well, and in some cases outlasted the one that cost more.

The Hamilton beach brand I have found to work great on small appliances. They are more of a budget brand, but I will tell you that they last. It seems like my plug-in knife that I use the carve the turkey, the emulsion blender that I use to make gravy, and those other items that I need to have in my kitchen, but don’t use all the time, I have Hamilton Beach and they’re still working years and years later.

The next step I have is to keep it simple. Yes, I do have things like an electric knife and an immersion blender, but if you do not have the storage space, a knife and a whisk would work just fine.

There certainly is something to be said for not having every single gadget. I have been a sucker for ice cream makers, sorbet maker’s Panini makers, and you know what, I end up donating them. Why? Because either they don’t get used and just take up space or when I do use them it’s really more than of a hassle, and in the case of a Panini maker, I have a George Foreman and that works just fine to make Panini‘s.

You don’t need to have every single thing on the market. Be selective but just now that some of your bigger items that you won’t use a lot like a blender and a mixer, should be purchased with longevity in mind. No one wants to buy these items multiple times. Put a bit of money in the beginning. Do not have to replace them again.

Trust me I have been there, and I do know this.

Xo,

Mama