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- Cost (laundromat, rentals in apt., etc. vs owning)
- Convenience (can wash/dry whenever you need)
- Cost of travel (nothing if you are at home, goes up if you need to travel to a laundromat or go home)
- Time (time to clean clothes)
Here's my situation:
I live in a 1 br apt, it has washer and dryer hookups. Th apt complex does not have a laudry room, they do rent washers/dryers at an additional cost of 40$/month. I wash between 1-3 loads per week (this is reduced because I only go once a week due to inconvenience, it would ideally be 2-4). I spend on average between 5-7$ per week on the laundromat, no additional energy/water bills to consider, however. I can pick up a bundle at a Sears Outlet anywhere between 500-1000 (1000, for the front loaders with energy savings). What would you do?
Okay. This is a situation where frugality gets in the way of common sense.
A good washer/dryer will last you 12-14 years. $7/week x 52 weeks a year x 12 years is = $4,368 which would pay for a new washer/dryer combination multiple times. And if you're going to be in the apartment for two years, you would have more than paid for a washer/dryer with those kinds of rental fees.
And then there's time. Every time you go to the laundromat, you have to babysit your load. Call it two hours at best. That's 110 hours a year rock bottom. Don't you value your time more than that?
Okay. This is a situation where frugality gets in the way of common sense.
A good washer/dryer will last you 12-14 years. $7/week x 52 weeks a year x 12 years is = $4,368 which would pay for a new washer/dryer combination multiple times. And if you're going to be in the apartment for two years, you would have more than paid for a washer/dryer with those kinds of rental fees.
And then there's time. Every time you go to the laundromat, you have to babysit your load. Call it two hours at best. That's 110 hours a year rock bottom. Don't you value your time more than that?
I sure as hell do, thanks. I might be moving soon, so instead of purchasing some right now I might wait and see. If I do not get this position I will buy some. I just went to the laundromat today and the entire time I was saying to myself, this is ridiculous.
Put clothes in hot, soapy water in the morning.........rinse when I come back. I wear mainly dark clothes, so this method is fine.......light colored clothes, YMMV.
In College I would patronize this laundromat that would wash, dry and neatly fold all your clothes for you for around $30-40 bucks. Now that I own a home I think having your own washer and dryer is completely worth the cost. The biggest advantage is being able to do small loads now and again when you need specific things.
- Cost (laundromat, rentals in apt., etc. vs owning)
- Convenience (can wash/dry whenever you need)
- Cost of travel (nothing if you are at home, goes up if you need to travel to a laundromat or go home)
- Time (time to clean clothes)
Here's my situation:
I live in a 1 br apt, it has washer and dryer hookups. Th apt complex does not have a laudry room, they do rent washers/dryers at an additional cost of 40$/month. I wash between 1-3 loads per week (this is reduced because I only go once a week due to inconvenience, it would ideally be 2-4). I spend on average between 5-7$ per week on the laundromat, no additional energy/water bills to consider, however. I can pick up a bundle at a Sears Outlet anywhere between 500-1000 (1000, for the front loaders with energy savings). What would you do?
I just bought a plain Jane Kenmore set from a small Sears appliance center. It was 550, plus delivery and installation was another 50. You also have to buy the darned electrical cord for the dryer. But it was something I needed and so far working out great. It's not HE or front loader like my old set, but I was ready for a change. I feel like my clothes are fresher and cleaner since more water is involved.
I just bought a set from Sears Outlet, just basic Amana. I don't wash a ton, but just having the W/D at home is priceless. I just can't put my cloth in the same washer with others have washed their stuff ;-).
Now to the money, basic washer and dryer will do the same job as any other washer. Just use them when you have a full load and make sure you clean the lent from the dryer vent.
Another reason for having your own washer is that when you spill something on your clothes you can wash it right away, not wait until you can get to a laundromat. That saves your clothes because the stains don't have time to set in.
But the biggest thing is the inconvenience--the time and the going out in ice and snow or heat and humidity to a stupid laundromat. Things get stolen in laundromats too if you're not looking.
I have debated that option as well, sometimes you get great working appliances for great prices, often times you do not. I grew up in a low earning household with a large family and I recall all the issues my parents had with their washers/dryers, trying to buy used at first to save a few bucks, they had to eventually just buy new as the old ones kept breaking down, it turned out to be more costly than if they had just bought new in the first place.
If you can find a really good used appliance store like the one I use, where they repair as well as sell, the used appliances have been "gone over" by the mechanic and known problem parts replaced. So they are a really good deal.
Something to think about is if you move often - how long will you stay in this apt? Because you probably can't move a washer and dryer yourself (unless you are not going far and have at least a pickup)
If you can find a really good used appliance store like the one I use, where they repair as well as sell, the used appliances have been "gone over" by the mechanic and known problem parts replaced. So they are a really good deal.
Something to think about is if you move often - how long will you stay in this apt? Because you probably can't move a washer and dryer yourself (unless you are not going far and have at least a pickup)
Next time I move it will be paid for by the company hiring me, movers, I don't own all that much anyways.
I could easily just sell them before I move as well, I don't see it being a huge issue.
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