My gosh, are appliances expensive! I moved to a new place a couple of months back, and we had to get a ton of new appliances—washer, dryer, refrigerator—and boy, was it expensive!
Appliances, though, are something we can’t do without. Ever had the washing machine break?
Ugh, it’s a nightmare!
Just like furniture, we need appliances. What we don’t need, though, is the cost that comes with buying them.
It’s easy to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on appliances. When money is tight or you’re budgeting, that’s just not practical.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to get free appliances.
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How to Get Free Appliances
Sure, you can always find cheap appliances at places like the thrift store and the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, but getting appliances for free is even better than getting them for cheap.
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to get free appliances.
Here’s how you can get appliances for free and keep more cash in your pocket!
1. St. Vincent de Paul
St. Vincent de Paul is a Catholic volunteer organization that may be able to help you if you are in need of free appliances. The organization has already helped millions of people.
It provides resources, services, and assistance to those in need.
Contact your local Society of St. Vincent de Paul to see if they can assist you with getting free appliances. Click the link in the section heading to find your local Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
2. The Salvation Army
If you search for “Charities that help with appliances near me,” you’ll probably see The Salvation Army listed in the results.
The Salvation Army may be able to help you get appliances at no cost. If you are a low-income family, it may be worth contacting the charity.
Your local chapter might assist you with obtaining appliances. They often provide assistance in the form of vouchers that can be used when shopping at one of the Salvation Army’s distribution centers.
However, the items available will depend on the donations the Salvation Army has received. Be sure to check what types of items are currently available.
Apply for vouchers by contacting your local Salvation Army. You can find your local chapter by clicking the link in the section heading.
3. LIHEAP
If you are wondering how to get free appliances for low-income families, this one is for you!
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps eligible low-income households with their heating and cooling energy costs, bill payment assistance, energy crisis assistance, and—most importantly if you’re looking for free appliances—energy-related home repairs.
Yes, LIHEAP can help repair or replace heating and cooling systems—such as AC units.
So, if you are looking for free heating or cooling appliances, you may be able to get them for free or at least have your current ones repaired by LIHEAP, provided that you are eligible for the program.
4. State Programs
Some states have programs that assist people in buying or replacing their appliances.
They may offer you a rebate that you can use to replace your old appliances with newer, more energy-efficient models. Your state program may offer a voucher or a grant.
You can find out about programs in your state by contacting your state’s energy office. Find the contact details for your state here.
If you want to get free appliances from the government, it’s worth looking into state programs.
5. Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
There’s a government program from the US Department of Energy (DOE) called the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) that may be able to provide you with some free appliances.
WAP offers free home repair grants to low-income families and provides households with free weatherization services.
WAP will help you upgrade energy-consuming home appliances and improve your home’s heating, cooling, and electrical systems.
6. Craigslist
You can find used refrigerators, stoves, and many other appliances for free on Craigslist.
It’s a great option for finding free items locally.
Simply go to your city’s Craigslist and check out the free section, which can be found under the “For Sale” category.
Click on that, and you’ll be taken to the “Free” section. There, you will be able to see if anyone nearby has any appliances they’re giving away.
To find specific items, type the appliance you want, such as “stove,” “washer,” or “refrigerator,” into the search bar and hit enter. You’ll get results if anyone is giving them away for free near you.
You can also search on Google using terms like “Craigslist free appliances near me,” “Free washer and dryer Craigslist,” or other similar queries.
7. Freecycle
Freecycle is a site where people can give away items they don’t need and get items for free. You may be able to find people giving away appliances there. Just browse the site or post a request for free appliances.
8. Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace isn’t just a site for buying and selling items; it’s also a great place to find free stuff, including appliances.
Find everything from washers to dryers to kitchen appliances for free on there.
Check out the section for free stuff on there—we’ve linked to it in the section heading above. Use the search bar on Facebook Marketplace to find specific items.
9. Local Churches
A local church may be able to help you out if you’re in a jam. They can often point you toward resources for getting free appliances.
Sometimes, churches have events or initiatives where they give away used appliances to help families and individuals in need. Churches are welcoming places and want to support people in their community, so reach out and ask for help.
10. Family and Friends
Your family and friends can be a good resource for free appliances. For example, they might be moving and their appliances don’t fit in their new home. Or they may be upgrading their appliances and no longer need the old ones.
Whatever the case, people often have appliances they no longer need.
Ask your friends and family if they have any old appliances. They would likely be happy to give them to you free of charge.
Getting Appliances for Free: Summary
Getting free appliances isn’t as difficult as you might think.
Whether it’s through a charitable organization, your local church, a government program, or even your friends and family, you have plenty of resources for obtaining free appliances.
