Not enough in Emergency Fund!

zippygeorgeandben

It is really interesting reading all these posts.  All with relevant but different viewpoints.  I thought that those days in Britain had gone! We have never had a dishwasher and like the thought of one but, I don't mind washing up.  It feels like the circle of life.  Also, my mum always wanted a dryer so I bought her one but the bills shot up so it was, like someone earlier posted, about 'Quality of Life'.  
To the OP, you are making all the right sounds about emergency funds, not using credit cards etc so I do not think you have to worry too much because you have sorted out your mindset regarding debt and emergency funds so well done to you.
On a separate note, my friend got 'HIVE' installed in her house because she felt sorry for the man who came round and tells me how it's great that you can control your heating for when you get in the home.  Yes, I understand that, however, for me, getting in and it being cold, you just put the heating on and a few minutes later it warms up!  You have to appreciate the coldness to feel the benefit of the warmness!  But everyone is different.

Onebrokelady

I've never owned a dishwasher and just wash dishes by hand,it's a luxury item that you don't really need so I wouldn't replace it at all, my drier packed up at the beginning of the winter and I initially panicked and looked for a new one after being told it was unrepairable,I couldn't make up my mind which one to buy and in the end decided to try living without one,I haven't missed it once and me electricity bill has gone down so a win win situation,it's funny because I now have £1000 in my emergency fund so could have easily bought one but i find I'm less likely to spend money I don't need to nowadays,my emergency fund is for things I need like my cooker or my boiler 

ditty1234

Hi I can only repeat what others have said. Heated airer sounds good, although damp can be a massive problem if you are in a flat. I adore my dishwasher I bought it used over 5 years ago. Look at heart association or similar where appliances are tested before sold on (and cleaned) I also got mine delivered and installed. But as mentioned wait until you have the cash - or chance upon a good deal. Or start with a repair, just get a quote first - or try youtube if you can work out what is wrong. My fav website is espares. good luck.

zippygeorgeandben

If you are going to get a heated airer - check the wattage.  We bought one for £50 from Amazon.  Didn't really do the job and was expensive to run, compared with other items.

Onebrokelady

Another vote for YouTube and e spares here,I have a Hetty Hoover that needed a new cable e spares  was the cheapest supplier and YouTube  taught me how to fix it 😊

Sharon87

middleclassbutpoor said:

I think whilst this is probably an extreme example of why £1000 emergency fund is recommended. 

I will use a Dave Ramsey phrase here which goes something like - Get gazelle like with selling everything and anything you can get your hand on to build your emergency fund.  You should be so intense with this that the kids think they're being sold next!

The only time you should see the inside of a restaurant is if you have a job there.  Really cut back and be prepared to eat beans and rice, rice and beans until you are debt free. 

Clearly the kids bit is said in jest but the principles covered are true.  You should be focused on getting the £1000 saved up (if you have over £20k of income or £500 if less) asap so you can focus on repaying debt.  You can do this by squeezing every £ out of your income.  

As others have suggested - go without these appliances and one of 2 things will happen.  You will get so determined to get one that you will save up, or you will get so used to not having one that you will use the electricity savings to help build your emergency fund. 

Sorry but some of this isn't helpful. Not everyone wants to live off of rice and beans! If you have 30k of debt, that's a lot rice and beans until you're debt free! I have 10k of debt, down from 15k. I still occasionally eat out, go on holidays. Yes I could have my debt paid off a year earlier, but as long as your debt is going down and it's not stressing you out, then having some luxuries is good for your mental health. FYI - I also have a modest emergency fund of £1200 - however I'd rather use it on a house deposit in the future, so would never want to withdraw it all (it's in a HTB ISA so I can withdraw it fee free in case of emergencies) I add to this every month. I predict my debt will be paid off in 2-3 years even with the holidays I have planned!

zippygeorgeandben

If it is for a house deposit though, it's not an emergency fund is it?

determined_new_ms

Drawingaline said:

When our dryer broke we had to get another one. I am a cleaner and wash my cloths every evening, and they just wouldn't be dry the next day without a dryer. But I try to only use it or cloths and bedding. 

I don't like dishwashers. I took the built in one out when we bought this house. Wash everything by hand and always have. I watch my sister empty and load her dishwasher, it takes so long he could have just washed the dirty dishes in the same time!

Unless either of these items were essential I would leave it for a few months. By then you will know if having them is a deal breaker or you, and by them you will hopefully have enough money for them. 

Everyone is different and there's no right or wrong answers here. But I wouldn't be without our dw. Recently we didn't have one for a couple of weeks and I was tied to the kitchen sink constantly! Particularly over Christmas. It was such a relief when we were able to get a replacement.

OP if it were me I would be either looking to get a dw second hand off of fb/ebay when there was one in my price range. If my EF was what yours is I guess I'd be thinking around £50/60. If your 3rd appliance is a fridge/freezer I'd buy that 2nd hand and save a bit more money before getting the dw. I've always got my machines 2nd hand and been really lucky with them 

determined_new_ms

Also I have a heated dryer and I get things dried within 24 hours and do a load a day - fold and put always yesterday's and put up todays. We don't have a lot of room but it sits in the corner on the upstairs landing. when not in use it folds flat 

monetxchange

Sharon87 said:

middleclassbutpoor said:

I think whilst this is probably an extreme example of why £1000 emergency fund is recommended. 

I will use a Dave Ramsey phrase here which goes something like - Get gazelle like with selling everything and anything you can get your hand on to build your emergency fund.  You should be so intense with this that the kids think they're being sold next!

The only time you should see the inside of a restaurant is if you have a job there.  Really cut back and be prepared to eat beans and rice, rice and beans until you are debt free. 

Clearly the kids bit is said in jest but the principles covered are true.  You should be focused on getting the £1000 saved up (if you have over £20k of income or £500 if less) asap so you can focus on repaying debt.  You can do this by squeezing every £ out of your income.  

As others have suggested - go without these appliances and one of 2 things will happen.  You will get so determined to get one that you will save up, or you will get so used to not having one that you will use the electricity savings to help build your emergency fund. 

Sorry but some of this isn't helpful. Not everyone wants to live off of rice and beans! If you have 30k of debt, that's a lot rice and beans until you're debt free! I have 10k of debt, down from 15k. I still occasionally eat out, go on holidays. Yes I could have my debt paid off a year earlier, but as long as your debt is going down and it's not stressing you out, then having some luxuries is good for your mental health. FYI - I also have a modest emergency fund of £1200 - however I'd rather use it on a house deposit in the future, so would never want to withdraw it all (it's in a HTB ISA so I can withdraw it fee free in case of emergencies) I add to this every month. I predict my debt will be paid off in 2-3 years even with the holidays I have planned!

I get the principle that was behind the post, but I do too feel it's not particularly relevant to the OP really. They have got an emergency fund in place and are debt clearing. I don't think they needed telling they shouldn't be buying/spending anything and be living on rice. I too like Dave Ramsey, but the hardcore side of it isn't for everyone.

On heated dryers, they can be okay if you really want to use one. I had one and tended to find it made the room really stuffy and damp, and it was awkward to fit many clothes in on hangers. They then used to come out it quite stiff and smelt like the tent-style covering rather than any washing powder. They may have got better over the years, but a drying rack would do the same, albeit over a couple of days. That being said, dishwashers and dryers are lovely things to have if you can afford them/afford to run them!