Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.

Saving money is a priority for all families, but it can be very tough. It seems like there is always something else to pay for and even if you have a well thought out budget in place, surprise expenses can quickly throw a spanner in the works. 

If you are going to improve your financial situation, you need to find ways to save money on general expenses but you also need to look for ways to cut those unexpected bills, like home maintenance, for example. 

If your washing machine or fridge breaks down, what do you do? Most people buy a new one or call somebody out to fix it, both of which are expensive. But what if you fixed it yourself? People don’t think of this because they assume that it would be way too complicated, but that isn’t always the case. Simple repairs can be done quite easily once you know what you are doing and it’s a great way to save yourself a lot of money. However, you need to make sure you repair things properly and don’t break them even more, and you need to be safe while doing it. So, if you are going to repair your own home appliances, always follow these important tips. 

Know Your Limits

There are some basic repairs that you can manage on your own but complex repairs need to be handled by a professional. If you are just replacing one simple part, you can follow a tutorial without too much trouble. But complex repairs that require you to take apart the whole appliance are risky and there is a danger that you will break it beyond repair. So, be realistic about what you can and can’t do and always call a professional when you are out of your depth. 

Know When To Repair And When To Replace

Although it’s cheaper to repair something instead of replacing it, there are some situations when the repair just isn’t worth it. The 50/50 rule is a good way to determine whether you should repair or replace. If the appliance is more than 50% into its average lifespan and the repair will cost more than 50% of the price of replacing it, the repair probably isn’t worth it. If the appliance is old, it’s likely to keep breaking so replacing it is actually the cheapest option in the long run. 

However, there are some exceptions to this because it’s not just about money. Repairing instead of replacing is also much better for the environment so, in some cases, you might decide that you would rather do the repair, even on an old appliance, so you can keep it going for longer. 

Use High Quality Replacement Parts

Making your own repairs is a good way to save money, but don’t make the mistake of trying to make even bigger savings by buying cheap parts. Although you’ll save a bit of money now, you’ll have to spend more in a year or two when the appliance breaks again and you have to make another repair. You can find available parts here if you have an appliance to fix, and they will last a long while, so you don’t have to keep replacing them over and over. It’s better to do a good job once than a bad job twice. High quality parts will also improve the performance of your appliances, and that often means that they are more energy efficient and you can make some more savings there too. 

Search Appliance Error Codes

Finding out what is wrong with your appliances is easier than ever due to error codes. Often, when a modern appliance goes wrong, it will display a code, which you can then search on the manufacturer’s website or on forums where other people will help you out. By working out exactly what is wrong with the appliance, you can decide whether you are capable of fixing it or not. 

Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.