Buying Appliances for a College Dorm? Consider Craigslist and Freecycle

Shopping for appliances for college such as microwaves, mini-fridges, and televisions is best done sooner rather than later. However, those new college students that have not yet gone shopping for these items should take a little extra time and look at alternative shopping/trading sites such as Craigslist and Freecycle.

Let me tell my own story. Though I'll be entering college as a sophomore next year, I was looking for all of the above-mentioned items - I did not have a microwave, mini-fridge, or television my freshman year. My roommate had all of these items prior to coming to school, so I never invested in any of them. This wasn't a problem, and because I moved dorms in the middle of the year, I was grateful that I did not have to move heavy appliances. However, I'll be living in a single room next year, so I decided that it was time to have all of these things.

Earlier in the summer, I spent some time pricing these items out at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club. New, a small television, a mini-fridge, and a microwave could cost between $300 and $400. Being a student in this economy, that's a lot of money. Every dollar not spent furnishing my room could be spent on books, a meal plan, or other college necessities. Granted, a flat-screen LCD TV is appealing. So is a fridge with a freezer. But right now, saving money is more important than unnecessary upgrades.

So I asked my mom to keep an eye out on Craigslist and Freecycle for these used appliances. It took a couple months, but I am finally equipped with everything I need. We got a 13-inch television for twenty-five dollars and a mini-fridge and microwave for forty dollars, which comes to a total of sixty-five dollars. The television isn't a flatscreen or anything fancy. The mini-fridge doesn't have a freezer compartment. Nonetheless, I am more than pleased.

By being frugal and buying college appliances used, we were able to save between an estimated $250 and $350. For comparison, renting a "Micro-Fridge" combination fridge, freezer, and microwave for a year costs $200. I think that actually buying a mini-fridge and microwave is a much better investment of money. Likewise, we were able to give our money to local individuals that needed it. The lady that sold us the fridge and microwave had lost her job recently, and could probably use the money. I feel much better about giving her money than I would about giving a geater amount of money to a mega-corporation such as Wal-Mart.

If you are a new college student or the parent of a new college student, I suggest that you consider sites such as Craigslist and Freecycle as a way to get free or low-cost appliances and supplies for school. You'll not only be able to save a considerable amount of money compared to shopping at brick-and-mortar stores, but you'll also be giving your money to real people that need it. Do you have any other suggestions on how to save money while shopping for college supplies? Feel free to share your tips in the form of a comment. Thank you for reading.