WWYD, Credit?

[73kittycat73]

Hi. I have a small kitchen so can only fit a washer dryer in it. Mine broke down a while ago. At present I have a relative doing my washing and drying.
I can get a new one on credit but here's my dilemma. I get panic attacks and anxiety if I owe any money. I think it's because a few years ago I had a lot on credit then my financial situation changed and my income was cut down. I ended up owing a lot and it took me over a year to pay it all back.
I can't save up to buy another second hand one so would need to buy on credit. Does anybody have any wise words of wisdom for me on how I could approach this problem and talk myself around?
Thanks for reading.

If you're not in a position to save up, how will you afford to repay the credit?

A washing machine is a necessity though, would it be cheaper to get a basic machine than to get a washer/dryer?

Yes just that I'm afraid.

If you can't save to buy one, you can't afford to pay credit charges on top of that.

Op if you get one on credit perhaps try your best to pay more off it than the minimum payments when you can. It's only one purchase just make sure you only buy that one purchase and that's it. You won't spiral into debt from that.

Don't buy an expensive top of the range just get a good one that will do the job.

Otherwise find a local laundrettes to do our washing

Your anxiety about being in debt is a valuable trait, kitty ! Once you've persuaded yourself that getting things on credit is easy and painless you could find yourself on a very slippery path so I'm not going to make the suggestions you ask for.

BUT I quite understand that you're in need of a washer dryer - have you looked on FreeCycle or local community FB pages? Sometimes people are doing a refurb and replacing their white goods and keener to get rid of the old items quickly than to make a few ££s. Best of luck.

I could save about £15.00 a week so that would cover the credit. Obviously that would take me a long time to save up.

perhaps try your best to pay more off it than the minimum payments when you can.

Thanks Glitter, that's a good idea.
Thank you too Optimist1, never thought of that.

I second the suggestion re Freecycle, Gumtree etc. I'm just after giving away my late mum's cooker and washing machine via Freecycle.

What about Gumtree or Freecycle? You might be surprised!

Have a look around local facebook selling pages, freecycle, gumtree etc.... my sister managed to get a fridge freezer on freecycle and a washer for £10 on a selling site.
It could put you on while you save the £15 a week and buy a new one x x

Look on local Facebook selling / local area pages. On my local fb pages there is always plenty of people giving away stuff to get rid of it quickly. You could then save your £15 weekly in case if another breakdown so you don't need credit in future.

I agree you should check Gumtree and Freecycle, we're just about to get rid of a massive, relatively new fridge-freezer via Freecycle because we no longer need it and CBA selling it.

Whatever you do, do it quickly so as not to take advantage of your relative's generosity in doing your laundry.

Try Argos, if you get an Argos card some stuff is 6 months interest free, just make sure you pay it ALL off by the end of the interest free period.

Try the British heart foundation shops, often cheap washers there (I just donated my old one). You are much more likely to get a washer rather than a washer dryer and there more reliable. Do you have outside space to dry clothes?

Look for a second hand one, and perhaps just a washer. Washer dryers eat energy and are more expensive.

Not that I'm advocating credit and debt, but if you were desperate, there are catalogues that give you 6/9/12 months interest free credit. So long as you could pay it off within the set timescale you'd be no worse off - they only add on the interest once you go over the interest-free period.

Well, as someone who owes, and whose drains blocked recently, I say find a good laundrette or washing service and be frugal till you can buy re conditioned or second hand.
I am loving my new laundrette habit, and the maths are very similar to washing at home, and I usually get it all done in one day a week.
Service washes by a local person working from home are £6 a load, and at laundrette I do two loads for £10..you can actually feel more organised doing this, and then put away what you can for a three months and see if you are getting close.
Do it a low/zero interest if you do..!

Don't buy on credit. Even if that means learning to hand-wash clothes and wash most items far less often.

"Credit" includes interest-free. You are still taking the risk that your circumstances or priorities could change and this could turn into a bad commitment.

My washers-dryer maths..
Power for 14kg wash and 8kg dry = 10units electricity.
Unit price circa £0.15
Electric cost £1.50 (but 4kg extra drying needed)
Time... Up to 4hours home, one hour laundrette.
Washing machine cost £400
So 100 washes a year = £4 per wash, or £8 per week.
So.. Home washing 2loads a week = £9.50
Launderette washing 2 loads a week = circa £9.50 per week..

See.. :)