Today is our first guest, Kate from West 5th Love!

One of the most difficult decisions to make when Zach and I got our own place and got married was trying to figure out what we did and didn’t need. All I had to go on were bridal magazines (which are evil…don’t listen to them) and what my mom owned. That didn’t tell me much. Needless to say, I could have avoided buying stuff I didn’t need in favor of getting stuff I did need. Kate is here to help keep you from making the mistake I made. 🙂

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It can be a difficult task trying to decide what small appliances you might need when you first move out on your own. It doesn’t help that there are so many options and it can become completely overwhelming! The most important thing to remember is to keep it simple and only buy things that work for your specific lifestyle.  Check out the list below for 5 must have small appliances and for 5 small appliances you might want to live without.

Appliances to Buy:

1. Food Processor/Blender:  I personally put these two in the same category as they do similar things, but depending on your lifestyle one might make more sense. For example if you want to cut down cook and prep times and want to be more creative in the kitchen, I would highly suggest a food processor. It can chop, dice and puree before you can even sharpen a knife!  Food processors have endless options for making your own food and you can save a lot of money by making products such as peanut butter, or butter at home. However, if you love to make smoothies, milkshakes or even soups a blender is the best way to go. When you are shopping for a blender you want to find a balance of something that is affordable (You don’t need high end right off the bat) and durable so it won’t break within a couple of uses.  Lastly, regarding both these machines you will want to think about size and counter space.
2. Toaster Oven: Most people think you don’t need a toaster oven if you have a standard oven or regular toaster.  But what most people don’t know is how much money you can save by simply buying a toaster oven instead of using these other two options. By using a toaster oven for heating food items, you will save a ton of money from not having to heat up your kitchen oven and waste electricity. You can toast, reheat and even broil with a switch of a button and you won’t heat up the house by using a standard oven.
3. Slow Cooker: When you move out for the first time, meal time can be difficult. So why not make it easier and try some slow cooking? You can put a variety of ingredients in your slow cooker, leave it to cook for the whole day and come home to a hot meal with almost no effort. Slow cookers can be used for almost every meal you can think of and will make large enough meals to provide leftovers for the next few days.  Not only is it a cost saving choice, the options are absolute endless.
4. Hand Mixer:  A hand mixer may seem like a tool you wouldn’t need right away, but surprisingly these little tools pack a big punch! Hand mixers can help with anything from baking to whipping cream and even potatoes. They don’t take up a lot of space and break down nicely for storage which is important in any home. You don’t need to splurge on an expensive hand mixer, as even some of the lower price tools have been known to last the longest.
5. Coffee Maker: Now obviously this won’t apply to everyone but if you are a coffee drinker it’s most likely a must! When  we are talking about coffee makers, the options can be endless which makes deciding that much harder. If you have a few people who drink coffee in the house a traditional -8-12 cup coffee maker will most likely be the best bet. They are affordable and make a large amount of coffee in a small amount of time. On the flip side if you only have 1-2 people who drink coffee or even tea, I would suggest a single serve coffee maker such as a K-cup machine or Tassimo. In my personal experience I found we were wasting coffee with a 12 cup maker as only one of us would drink it. Since we switched to a K-cup machine we have been saving money by not wasting coffee and it caters to my tea drinking habits by having a hot water option.

Appliances to Avoid

1. Bread Machine: It seems like a good idea right? You’ve just moved in to your first home and you want to take on the challenge of making your bread! Well, it can be done without a bread maker and if you are new homeowners maybe that’s the best choice. Bread machines can get very expensive and have a habit of collecting dust on the counter after a few uses. You can easily create your own bread in your oven with a few ingredients. In this case, lose the bread machine, heat up the oven and get creative!
2. Electric Can Opener: While this might be a convenient tool to have, it’s not completely necessary. Electric can openers will take up valuable space in any cupboard or on any counter top and most likely will just get in the way. To save some money, opt in for a standard handheld can opener.
3. Deep Fryer: A deep fryer might seem like a good way to bring your favorite fast food items in to the house, but most times it’s just not worth it. Not only will there be the temptation of making every deep fried food you can think of, you are also dealing with hot oil and complicated cooking. There is also the added issue of cost, deep fryers don’t exactly run cheap and most times don’t fit in a starting budget.
4. Waffle Maker: Fresh hot waffles in the morning are appealing, but are they really worth the mess and hassle? Not to mention waffle makers have been known to cram up cupboards after a few uses. While a waffle maker would be great down the line, it doesn’t quite make the list of must haves when moving out. To avoid buying this appliance, try making your own with a griddle pan or make a special date to go out to your local waffle house.
5. Juicer: Now obviously this won’t apply if you love to juice or if you make your own fresh juices on the regular. When your first moving out, it’s best to stick with the basics that you know for sure you’ll use. While juicers are great and handy to have on hand, they aren’t always needed and take up room in the kitchen. They also can get quite expensive depending what kind you buy, so try and DIY your own fresh juice to save some money.

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