To buy a freezer?

EssexGirl

Or not?
New or 2nd hand?
Chest or upright?

My fixed term contract at work is coming to and end and with no firm job prospects to fall back on we are going to be a lot worse off very soon.

Do people find having a freezer helpful for saving money?

I do have a fridge freezer, that is good for 2 weeks worth of meals but I can't stuff any bargains into it. I have the option of 2nd hand one from someone local for £40 but uncertain whether to buy this or invest in a new one.

Any thoughts?

MrsAtobe

I have a fridge freezer, and to be perfectly honest I also want a chest freezer for the garage. That said, if someone I knew was selling a working upright one for £40, then I'd buy it. My sister has an old Bejam branded chest freezer that was second hand when she got it, and it's still going strong.

aggypanthus

Consider the running costs of running it. when my leccy DD went up last month, I considered stopping using my small second (to FF) freezer. I end up storing too many unused bargains !

floss2

I am after buying a chest freezer, to supplement our upright. Will keep an eye on this as DH reckons we should go for a well-insulated one, whereas I'm more VFM. Although if the rumours of power outages come true, his plan would be best.

EG, personal view is that if cash will be tight, go for the s/h one, you can fill it with meals made from y/s goodies

EssexGirl

MrsAtobe wrote: »

I have a fridge freezer, and to be perfectly honest I also want a chest freezer for the garage. That said, if someone I knew was selling a working upright one for £40, then I'd buy it. My sister has an old Bejam branded chest freezer that was second hand when she got it, and it's still going strong.

Bejam, now that brings back memories!!


I guess it's only £40 to find out instead of at least £150.

aliama

Is it for use outside? If so, make sure to check the climate class, as not all freezers are really suitable for use outside (actually very few, including chest freezers), so if it gets too cold, the food could start to defrost. Many freezers are only suitable for temperatures down to 10c.

I have a feeling it's going to be a long, cold winter, so bear this in mind: the last thing you want is to spend out money on a shiny new freezer and then lose all your bargains.

floss2

Beko do freezers that are good for outside (garage/shed/outhouse) - check their website as not all of them are suitable

viv0147

Hi I live alone, and being I am only on a state pension I need to be frugal! I had a fridge freezer but I found it limiting because I like to batch cook meals and then freeze. I am also on the lookout for bargains and very often I had to limit myself because of storage problems which I found very frustrating, until I decided to buy a second hand chest freezer as it happens it cost me £40, and it was the best £40 I've ever spent! I bought it about 2 years ago and because I did, I have saved 100s of £££££ so go for it you won't be sorry.

hermum

If you do buy a chest one, as you start to fill it, do a running inventory. I had a chest one & found it such a pain to get to the bottom of it that stuff got lost.
I bought a tall one a few months ago, it's got 5 drawers/shelves, I think & love it.
It's easier to find stuff as things have their own drawer & the drawers are deep enough to easily hold a family sized chicken.

kerri_dfw

I bought a 4 drawer under-counter freezer the other week, love it already as we can batch cook soooo many more meals than just with the fridge/freezer. Cost us £40 too, must be the going rate or something. I much prefer it to a chest as you don't have to delve to the bottom of it to find what you're looking for.

Butterfly_Brain

I have a chest freezer and an upright, I much prefer the chest freezer because I can get more stuff in. I keep it tidy by using cardboard boxes, so I have 2 boxes for meat, 2 for veggies,1 for fruit, 2 for HM meals, I store and it works well for me, but it is a very large freezer and I do feed 4/5 adults depending on whether DD's BF is staying
I keep DD's quorn, grated cheese, fish, butter, lard and ice cream in the upright freezer