Will it save to get a washer and dryer?

[Ima saver]

Really, you should be able to find a used washer/dryer that will pay for itself in 3 or 4 months. When you sell your house and move to a new house, most people want a new washer/dryer. I have given my last few away. No way could I stand to go to a laundromat again!

[flash]

I agree. I had a hand-me-down washer and dryer from an aunt when she purchased a new set after 20 years, and we used it at least ten before we bought our current set. You can get something cheap; do you have Pennysaver or other local ads?

Cost is going to depend upon if you have a gas dryer (cheaper) or electric (expensive and takes longer, but that's where we are now). Also, commercial (laundromat) equipment can be harder on clothes, so they may not last as long.

If you decide to invest in new, get what you want. They do tend to last a LONG time, so consider whether or not you can live with your decision for twenty years.

[Snoopy2645]

I agree with the others a nice used set will be cheaper & may last forever bought my first set used 10 yrs ago & still have the dryer. I think it will be cheaper for you in the long run too.

[kashi]

I'm not sure where you live, but if you're near a metropolis, check out craigslist.org and see if your city is listed. I just saw a washer listed in the free section of my city's page, and it says it's only 8 years old and works fine. You might have similar luck!

[debtfreeme]

when i was in college i had budgeted for laundry at the mat each week. when i moved off campus i still had that amount budgeted and instead placed it the laundry area of my apartment each time i did a load. i had friends who would come and use my washer and dryer when we were studying or just hanging out and they would also put a dollar for each wash and 2 for each dry (if a large heavy load). (My electric came as part of the rent.)

when i left the apartment after more than two years i had enough to buy a washer out right. I have continued the same pattern even when i moved back home and when i left last summer i had enough to buy a dryer. So now when i buy my house i have enough for the front load washer and dryer i want put away, and also enough for my dish washer unless i need to use it to increase my downpayment. If i do i am going to save enough for the front load washer. I can hang dry everything else until i can affor the dryer.

[Ima saver]

I think that is pretty smart debtfree. I have not been to a laundromat in so many years, how much do they charge to wash and dry one load of clothes?

[debtfreeme]

when i was in school it was a dollar to wash and a dollar for 30 minutes of drying time. Living in San Francisco it was to humid or wet much of the time to dry much in our dorm rooms so everything got at least 30 minutes of drying time then got hung out to finish if it was a nice day or not to humid.

[cicy33]

I also believe that having a washer and dryer is good! I hate going to the laundramat. At least at home we can do it at our convenience. We generally do about 5 loads a week, occasionally that stretches to 7. that is for three full time adults, 4 part time kids. (weekends only). I make sure that I sort carefully and try to wash only when it is full.

[debtfreeme]

Ask yourself this: is it worht the $520 dollars i use any way each year paying someone else's bills with my money?

It is worth it to buy the washer and dryer set. Even with increased electric a little, you can manage that by what you toss in the dryer versus what you hang dry. And after the first year any extra costs would be saved because you no longer have 500 leaving each year in cleaning costs.

Does that make sense? After the first year when you have put the usual 10 dollars a week toward the set tht you now own, you put the 10 dollars a week toward something else instead, and you save time too. you can now do laundry at midnight or 5 am if you wanted to! (our apartment complex always had locked doors between 10 pm and 8 am in college)