When you finally make the decision to purchase your own house, one of the costliest aspects of renovating the house would be the kitchen. This is naturally because the typical kitchen has a high number of pricey appliances, like the toaster oven or a refrigerator. (The cost of purchasing kitchen appliances is second only to your fancy high-tech home entertainment system).
Of course, when it comes to something as important as food production, you probably wouldn’t want to skimp too much. However, by following a few guidelines, you just might be able to save some money to buy that fancy high-tech home entertainment system.
First of all, think about what you really need in your kitchen. Every kitchen must have a refrigerator, that goes without saying, but do you really need one with an ice-dispenser? Splurge a bit more on the commonly used appliances, like the counter-top stove, or the convection oven. When it comes to appliances with more specific functions, like an ice cream maker or an espresso machine, you will have to think about whether you see yourself using them frequently. If not, either get a cheap 2nd hand one, or skip it entirely.
Personally, must-have appliances for me include the refrigerator, common counter-top stove, a convection oven for general purpose baking and roasting, a toaster oven to make breakfast much easier (I highly recommend getting a toaster oven instead of a toaster; it’s much more versatile and it doesn’t cost that much more), a microwave oven for leftovers, and a juicer because I am a big fan of natural fruit juices. Of course, you should plan it around your personal taste.
Also, think about how often you will be in the kitchen. If you have a busy schedule and have no time to cook, or if you can afford to eat out or cater frequently, you may want to reduce the budget on the kitchen a bit.
A second tip would be to buy second hand. Be on a look out for people who are moving out or who are renovating their kitchens. Most of the time, you can find a pretty good deal, and most kitchen appliances can last a long time before wear-and-tear takes its toll.
Just follow the advice, and you can save a pretty penny on kitchen appliances, without sacrificing your quality kitchen time.