Bargain Hunting Craigslist Style

Ahhhh...Craigslist.  The only way that first time home owners and indebted student loan payers can afford nice things.

When we were looking for a house, we checked out new construction homes (where we could get things just the way we wanted...which come to find out is extremely costly) and existing homes.  We ended up going with a Traditional brick home built in the 90s.  We love the neighborhood, the trees, the mature lawn/landscape, the windows, and the price which gives us a little more room to customize.

When we first moved in to our house, we created a list of things we needed/wanted to do.  This was a stipulation we had set prior to buying the house.  We had to make a list, otherwise it wouldn't get done.  I am a closet list-lover.  Are you?

The List: 

As we wrote the list, it became more and more apparent that all money would go towards "fixing up" type things and not really the "fun" things that we had waited to do.  This isn't a bad thing, we just have to get the rooms the way we want them before we decorate or go out buying TVs.  Ha ha...Dave?  You reading this?

Anyway, on to the first item...we found a few really good deals on Craigslist.  A stainless steel fridge, gas range, and a washer.  All three together would be about the cost of a new fridge.  So the first week we lived in the house, we jumped on the opportunity and picked the items up.  But as most of you who have ever done a deal on Craigslist know, things almost never go smoothly!

The gas range was a cinch, except for the renting a Home Depot truck part, driving the central Austin, and not bringing any bungee cords or blankets (hey we've never bought an appliance in our lives)!

Here are some photos from the adventure:

Good thing they used an airtight form of security so no one can steal the Home Depot truck. 

Seriously though, who still uses The Club?

It was all worth it though and the people were really nice. They even let us use one of their bungee cords and blankets (Thanks Heather and Sam).  I just made that up.

  Here's the range we HAD (only LOTS more sticky) and here's the range we GOT!!

The fridge, we found on Craigslist as well.  Dave even bargained with the guy and got him to deliver for cheaper.  Here's a photo of it that I found online:

The Dishwasher we searched and searched for.  This is the most important appliance in the kitchen (in my opinion).  If you get a good one, you can save so much time.  We eventually got lucky with a Frigidaire dishwasher at Best Buy that was the last one since they were coming in with a new model.  It was also tax free weekend and we had a coupon, so it was a good deal.  We went from this:

To this:

Probably my favorite thing in the entire kitchen. 

We also bought a washer, which was actually a huge headache, but I really like it now and it was dirt cheap, so I guess it was worth it.  I'll just give you the shortened version of the story, the lady opened the door and immediately said, "I'm sorry honey I am so dizzy from ALL THEM MEDS I've been taking.  Who are you again?"  You imagine the rest.

Good times with Craigslist peeps.

So what did we do with the old appliances?  We sold them on Craigslist for a pretty penny.  And the cycle continues.

**Real photos of the appliances in the kitchen will be coming up when I do a post on the dramatic kitchen renovation my mom and I did a few weeks ago.