When shopping for a large appliance like a refrigerator or dryer, you likely know it’s best to wait for deals. However, you can’t always time these purchases because you don’t have control over when something breaks. If your oven quits working, you likely need to replace it as soon as you can. Luckily, there are a few ways to make these purchases more affordable, no matter the time of year.

Keep an Emergency Fund Ready

It’s a good idea to have a separate emergency fund for home expenses like new appliances. That way, you won’t have to go into debt to make the purchase, and you won’t need to worry about something costing a little more than you have expected. Look for ways to reduce your monthly expenses so you can start building up your emergency fund. If you have existing student loan debt, refinancing can net you more favorable terms. In addition, cutting the cable cord, cancelling unused gym memberships, and avoid going out to eat are additional ways to save.

Look for Rebates or Offers from the Original Manufacturer

Do some research on brands you would be open to purchasing and then go to each brand’s website to see if they are offering discounts, rebates, or other offers. If they have overstocked a certain model, they may be offering a sale to unload the extra inventory. As you shop around for deals, make sure you take into account the entire cost of the appliance. 

You will need the old one hauled away, and you will need the new one delivered and installed. Some stores offer this as part of the purchase, and others charge extra. However, some manufacturers may offer free installation of the appliance as part of their deal, so keep an eye out for these deals, and look for other deals as well as some retailers offer discounts to those who have been in the military.

See if Price Matches are Offered

One of the many things adults should be doing regularly is watching the dollar and finding ways to save in any possible expenditure. Compare retailers’ price match policies. Some stores might match the lowest price of the same appliance at nearby stores. They might even match the lowest price of nearby club stores. Some even offer price matches for a couple of weeks or months after you purchase the appliance, so if it goes on sale the next week, you could get the difference back. Just make sure you read up on the details of what is and is not covered.

Negotiate the Price

Negotiating the price can pay off, especially because many customers do not think to negotiate with the retailer. However, many consumers who do negotiate are successful. Checking prices at nearby retailers can help you negotiate, and if you are buying multiple appliances, you might be able to get a discount on each. You could also ask if they can offer a better price. If they won’t give you a better deal, you might be able to at least get a free delivery and hookup of the new one, and they may be willing to remove the old one for free.