We’re two weeks out from moving into our new house. I don’t remember if I updated you on our refrigerator buying decision or not, but we discovered we needed more appliances than just a refrigerator! We ended up getting a package deal on new appliances from a local dealer. In the end we decided that since all of the appliances would need to be replaced sooner rather than later (and in the case of the range, immediately), it would be better to get the deal on a package with warranties than try to hunt down individual items on Craigslist.
By shopping locally, we worked with a dealer to get the best package deal available. So now I have a refrigerator, range, dishwasher, and an over the range microwave thrown in for good measure. And in the end the microwave didn’t cost any more than a regular oven hood.
But now that I’ve made the refrigerator decision, I’ve got my sight set on a freezer. There’s room for a chest freezer in my laundry room. I tell myself that having a freezer would be great for purchasing meat on sale, rather than purchasing it at full price as I need it. I tell myself that buying a new energy-efficient freezer would be more cost effective in the long run than getting an old one on Craigslist.
I’m not even close to taking the plunge on a freezer yet, but I want to make sure my thinking is in the right place. Will a freezer save me money in the long run? Is it better to buy new or used? Is a chest freezer better or an upright freezer? And what size freezer do I need?
I never thought I’d spend so much time thinking about appliances! Any insight you could offer would be great! Do you have a freezer? Did you buy it new or used? If you had to buy a new freezer, would you get the same thing? I want to know all about freezers!
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September 12th, 2008 at 4:50 am
We got a deep freeze after doing much research. (Ours was given to us and we often have meat given to us–hunters in the family, so for us there was no question after researching.) I also buy a lot of bulk items because I shop once a month for frozen and canned foods. It also allows me to stock up purchasing food at cheaper places further away (we have a trader joes an hour away and I can stock up on frozen items our family can eat and not have to run out to the MUCH more expensive local store.)
The following two articles at Dollar Stretcher were part of our decision making.
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/05/05feb28a.cfm
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/04/04apr05a.cfm
September 12th, 2008 at 5:19 am
I LOVE having a chest freezer. I’m able to stockpile when there are good sales on meat, bread, and frozen veggies. I also have room to freeze meals I make in advance for those busy nights when I don’t feel like cooking.
We just replaced a 1980s chest freezer with a new, energy star freezer. New freezers are much more energy efficient than the old ones - I’ve noticed a difference in my utility bill already.
Chest freezers are more energy efficient than uprights, and in my opinion, it is easier to store things. You can cram a lot in a chest freezer without worrying about the door popping open (unlike uprights).
Also, if you have an extended power outage (which happens frequently where I live), a chest freezer will retain the cold much longer than an upright (up to 72 hours if you don’t open it). When you’ve invested all that money in stockpiling, it’s important to protect that investment!
To me, a chest freezer is worth EVERY PENNY!
September 12th, 2008 at 5:24 am
I bought a brand new upright freezer (no room for a chest freezer) and never looked back. It costs about $50 a year in energy and saves me HUNDREDS every year. I freeze EVERYTHING. Once a month or so I go to the Stroeman Outlet nearby and buy about twenty loaves of whole wheat bread at a dollar a loaf and freeze. I’ve made lunch sandwiches ahead of time and frozen them when I’ve been able to get deli meat on sale. I stock up on BIG packages of veggies from BJ’s (don’t have a membership, but go with a friend who does). I buy meat on sale (duh). I freeze produce from my garden and the excess from friend’s gardens. I freeze my fresh herbs at the end of the season. I freeze whole gallons of milk when found on sale (defrost over night in a large pot of cold water). I freeze cheese.
I save so much money in not having to shop weekly or even monthly (in my current bout of unemployment I actually went three months without grocery shopping) that not having a freezer would be inconcievable. I went years without one because I couldn’t figure out where to put one and in the end gave up asthetics in one of our living spaces for the economics of freezer possession. I keep plants on top and my kids art on the door. So in the end it does look pretty homey.
No doubt about it. Buy a freezer. Buy it new. Buy it now.
September 12th, 2008 at 5:41 am
LOL, I am posting about my freezer later today!
My freezer broke a few weeks ago and we frantically stashed our food in our above the fridge freezer and in my mom’s chest freezer. Thankfully nothing was lost!
I can’t live without my freezer. Its older (not Engery Star) and my co-worker gave it so us. I figure paying the higher eletric bill is worth it. (note my summer electric bill is about $45 so not sure how much it cost to run it).
I love being able to stock up on things when they are on sale! I keep an inventory list so that I always know what I have on hand, no more mystery packages found months later!
I freeze just about everything: Bread, baked goods, meat, cheese, veggies, leftovers, freezer meals, etc. Not only do I get to stock up on sale items, I can cook/bake when I have the time and just pull them out later when I’m rushed!
September 12th, 2008 at 6:01 am
A freezer is a must for a frugal household. You can shop less often. My husband and I bought a freezer while we were still in our old apartment (none of the other appliances were ours, and the freezer was the only appliance we brought to our new home), and we stocked it completely. Then, we had a period of time when I was only working half time, and our income was also cut by half. We ate out of the freezer for a full six months. You can freeze leftovers, foods from a home garden, herba, nuts, ….anything.
September 12th, 2008 at 6:05 am
Something else to consider…you may be able to get one for free through freecycle. I see freezers and other large appliances on my local email list because people don’t want to move them. Things to consider: you’ll probably have to go get it pretty quickly, so be ready; it won’t be energy efficient.
September 12th, 2008 at 6:39 am
I’m with everyone else here…I’d be lost without our freezer. A chest type is supposed to be more efficient and will retain cold longer during a power outage. And if it’s in your laundry room, it can double as a folding table!
September 12th, 2008 at 6:48 am
My parents paid for one for us as a holiday gift two years ago, and it has been a godsend. It lets me stock up on unexpected discounts on meat, it lets me freeze excess produce, and I can bake large batches of bread, cookies, brownies, etc- and freeze them and just take out what is needed. Also, if you plan to have another baby (I do!), it’s nice to have a place to store extra lasagna and meals prepared ahead.
September 12th, 2008 at 7:05 am
My coworkers go in on a whole cow and a whole pig every year. They get the cuts they want, and it lasts the entire year. It’s cheaper than buying meat every week/month and way more convenient, but you need a freezer to make it happen. I rent right now, so I’m in a perma-jealous state. If you have the space, get the freezer.
September 12th, 2008 at 7:20 am
I have a 7 cubic foot chest freezer and I love it! It isn’t too big and isn’t too small. We get a side of beef once per year and save a lot of money by doing that. I rarely buy meat at the grocery store.
We were told that a chest freezer will run most efficiently when is it one-half to three-fourths full.
September 12th, 2008 at 7:29 am
I don’t have the room, but we are looking into cleaning out and re-arranging our garage just to get one! I would love to be buying sides of beef and pork. My parents have an upright freezer and let me tell you, growing up, it was awesome. When we were ravenous teenagers, my mom would say go check the freezer and it was always stocked with snacky type foods, as well as meals and meat (and ice cream!) It was nice to have ready made meals (store bought and homemade!)that just needed to be popped in the oven for night when my mom had to work late (my dad was not a cook!)
September 12th, 2008 at 7:46 am
I was given a very small used (but not very old, it is energystar) chest freezer to store breastmilk when my baby was in the NICU. It was a Godsend for that because otherwise we would not have had enough room in our freezer. Although all that is gone now, I plan to keep it so that I can buy a lot of meat when it is on sale and cut it up and freeze it. There is no way we could have used a full size chest freezer!
September 12th, 2008 at 8:17 am
I bought one a couple of months ago, which is mostly full with deals and extra meals and appetizers that I’ve made. Last night at Kroger there were packages of smoked sausage which were buy one get on free–plus each package had a 75 cent coupon on it, which double. The result? I got 18 packages (of 5) smoked sausage. All but 2 went into the chest freezer (about 5 cu). Most of them will be used by the end of the month for specific events, but the ones that aren’t will remain frozen until we need them. Had I bought them all at regular price, I would have spent over $50. Before I got the extra freezer, I would have never been able to take advantage of this deal. The freezer was about $165, brand new on sale…just last night I recouped $50 of the price.
September 12th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Yes!! I bought a chest, energy efficient one from Home Depot last August. Cost under $200 and my electric bill only went up about $5 - $7 dollars.
I now buy meat, frozen breakfast stuff, fruit (my son loves frozen blueberries) and other stuff when ever they are on sale!!
This is one of the best *splurges* I have even purchased!!
September 12th, 2008 at 8:30 am
We bought a new upright about 4 years ago for our garage. I absolutely love it. Our kitchen refrig/freezer is a small one my husband bought as a bachelor and I couldn’t do nearly the amount of batch cooking without a supplemental freezer in the garage (and we could delay buying a new one for the kitchen).
My favorite items to freeze are diced tomatoes, black beans, kidney beans, and garbonzo beans. I buy the huge cans at Cash and Carry, use what I need for a recipe and freeze the rest. Our local organic grocery also has a half-off rack of prepared quiches, lasagna, etc. when they reach their “expiration date” so I buy those and freeze them for emergency meals, or to give to neighbors in times of need. Other staples in my freezer include: homemade chicken stock, meats from the local smokehouse, bags of ice for making ice cream, and frozen berries bought from the Kiwanis. It all helps me avoid panic-shopping at the grocery store which saves lots of cash.
September 12th, 2008 at 8:40 am
I think a freezer is worth every penny. They even make small chest freezers that cost less to run.
Especially when the turkeys go on sale, you’ll love having one! Plus there is so much beyond meat you can freeze. Do it, you won’t regret it!
September 12th, 2008 at 8:45 am
I would not be able to survive without mine. Mine’s an upright, it’s much easier to organize & get stuff in and out, and I don’t have trouble with it popping open, not sure how that would happen.
You would save money by buying sides of beef & pork, and it would be much healthier for you & your family if you can get local grass-fed beef (not to mention it’s better for the local economy).
Freezers are much more effecient when full so fill it with bags of ice until it’ full. You do have to be careful though to make sure you’re eating things from the freezer and not just stocking it. My grandmother was always throwing things away she hadn’t used.
September 12th, 2008 at 8:52 am
A freezer is definately a “frugal” purchase. You will never regret it. We have an upright that is energy efficient. Since there are only 2 of us with, ahmmm, back difficulties……this is the way to go.
September 12th, 2008 at 8:54 am
I have a deep freezer and quite honestly I could not tell you anything about it. I got it for my birthday and only reason is, it was on clearance at sams club because the latch that allows for a dead bolt to be used, was missing. It is definetely not a high-efficeny freezer and I really am not sure whether we are getting our money out of it or not. If your dedicated to running to the store to buy meat in bulk that is on sale, I am sure in a few years it would pay off.
Don’t get me wrong, I do love having it. It works great for freezing different left over soups, bread (when I make more than two loaves), etc.
September 12th, 2008 at 9:01 am
A freeze will save you money if tend to buy ahead when things are on sale. My freezer is stuffed with meat, bread, and a few frozen dinners that I found for almost nothing on sale. I prefer an upright because I hate digging deep into the bottom of a chest freezer. Also, I think things tend to get lost in a chest freezer because it is harder to see everything.
September 12th, 2008 at 9:03 am
I feed 9 people daily but usually 12 - 14 with company and grand kids. I have 2 upright freezers and a large fridge with a bottom freezer. I bought upright freezers because I’m not as well organized as I’d like, and I know I’d never be able to keep up with rotating older items up to the top in a chest freezer.
I bought a new 21cu.ft. a year ago. I put meat, veggies, and fruit in there. We went to pick your own berry places, and planted a good sized garden this year, so I needed the space. I also buy local beef and chicken at the farmer’s market and through others, so I need to store a lot over a season. New models are more energy efficient, but they have more temper mental parts. The power went out, and it sent the freezer into defrost. It was fixed by simply unplugging and plugging it back in. I had it plugged into a power strip that went bad, and the lack of a ground confused the brain in the freezer, so the motor turned off. The food kept fine for over a week, with only the top shelf thawing.
The other freezer is a 17cu.ft. We keep half price bread from the organic bakery, raw milk (bought in 8-12 gallon quantities to save on gas as the dairy is way out in the country), and any convenience items in that one. I bought it new about ten years ago and have never had a repair on it.
Having enough freezer space saves a lot of money and time, as I can stock up on food when it’s inexpensive, and it saves us tons of gas money by running to the basement instead of the store to get items, plus it saves me tons of time not having to run to the store all the time. The kids can take something out to cook even when I’m not home, so it’s very convenient.
Just an additional thought here on service contracts for your appliances. Most folks say that they are a rip off, but I love them! I have them on all my appliances, except for the freezers, since they have few moving parts. If the repair exceeds the value of the item, they give you an allowance to shop for a brand new item. In 11 years, they’ve replaced 3 washers, 1 dryer, 2 refrigerators, 1 stove, 1 over head microwave/vent hoods, and 1 dishwasher. It has been a blessing!
September 12th, 2008 at 9:06 am
I forgot to mention that the freezer doors have locks, so the doors never pop open if they get too full.
September 12th, 2008 at 9:06 am
We got our chest freezer on sale, and the manufacturer just happened to be offering a rebate at the same time. We wanted one for a long time and shopped around a lot before getting this bargain. Right now it’s absolutely packed full. I feed our dags raw, so when the stores have meat on sale, I stock up. We also have a friend who processes game, so we get windfalls of deer bone and meat scraps for the dogs. On top of it, my husband hunts, so it’s nice to have the space. We actually talked last week about getting a second freezer, but we decided that’s probably over the top.
September 12th, 2008 at 9:08 am
It my opinion a freezer is a necessity for being frugal. It allows you to take advantage of sales and eliminated extra trips to the grocery store. They are worth every penny!
September 12th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Yes- Buy one!!! Yesterday!
It will save you TIME as well as money.
No last minute trips to the store for milk or bread or butter. Meals ready to pop into the oven on busy days. etc.
Chest:
Advantage: more economical, less cold escapes when you open it, stuff doesn’t fall out, top can be used for folding table or cutting table. Might last longer in power outage?
Disadvantage: Not user friendly to dig stuff out of the bottom, stuff gets lost (for me) in the bottom, I’m too lazy to dig clear to the bottom, I lost a contact lense in one leaning over:( Stuff piles up on the top/lid of it and you have to clear it off to open it. Takes up more floor space. I worry about little grandkids falling in and not being able to get out… (ok, so that’s just one of my big fears in life…maybe they come with locks these days?)
Upright: Advantage: Almost as economical, easy access and user friendly, I like stuff at eye level, no straining to lift up/out a 20 lb turkey from the bottom - it pulls right off the shelf. Top can be used for permanent storage, such as my recycling milk crates. Uses less floor space. I feel it’s easier to organize and inventory.
Less economical? as more cold flows out when the door is opened.
Disadvantage: Might last 6 hrs less in a power outage, but cover it with a blanket and tape it shut. Little kids can pull the door open and get to the ice cream
Right before Thanksgiving last year (when the remodeled kitchen was finally usable) I bought an 18 cu ft upright for the pies, quiches, cookies, breads, and meals I was making ahead for holidays, etc. I like the easy access convenience of the upright, especially as I am getting older. And as I had limited floor space in the mudroom, it was the best choice for me.
Even being single, I can’t imagine having to get by without a freezer. Game meat, bulk meat, my garden surplus, meals ahead for busy times, leftovers saved for lunches, and sales items: milk, butter, cottage cheese, Tillamook cheese
Tomatoes whole in a brown paper bag, etc. The family favorite meals for gift giving - my kids want mom’s lasagna!
Word of advice: Keep a good Inventory, by shelf or location - and keep it updated! I circle the oldest things in red on the inventory list so I will focus on using them up asap. Keep it as full as possible, even if just with frozen water jugs.
Yes- I would buy the same NEW 18 cu ft upright freezer again - for me. If for a family, I would get a larger upright, probably 25 cu ft.
The cost has been about $4/month on my electric bill - it’s worth it!
My freezer new cost $349 thru a local dealer.
New/Used: New ones are lighter and more economical. I would buy used only if broke or for a 2nd freezer. Many dumps have a charge for disposing of a freezer due to removing the freon from it.
I bought my son a $199 small chest freezer(what he wanted) for his anniversary one year - with 4 kids he says it’s a necessity!
Yes, having a freezer (and using it correctly) will save you LOTS of money in the long run! Happy shopping
September 12th, 2008 at 9:22 am
I would absolutely buy one. They’re great.
The one thing I do though, is until its FULL, using empty milk jugs or cartons, fill them with water and freeze them. This gives you three benefits:
1. Your freezer doesn’t have to work as hard if its not completely full
2. In the event of a power outtage, its not an immediate need to get the food out of there - it took 24 hours for my stuff to start thawing.
3. In the event of an emergency, you have water.
Absolutely get a freezer and enjoy!
I have old crappy ones, but I can’t wait to buy a new one!!
September 12th, 2008 at 9:29 am
My only advice would be, don’t discount the ability to find a discounted nearly new chest or upright freezer on craigslist. There may be people out there looking to move and dont have space for it in their new home, or remodeling. If it isnt a “Need it Immediately” type purchase, you may just get lucky!
September 12th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Explanation: I would by new because I used to be in the refrigeration business and saw too many old freezers die. I buy new because of the warranty for the first year, which also covers usually food spoilage for the first year. If a freezer is a lemon, it will usually give you problems in the first 90 days. After that, I trust it.
I would take a used freezer if it was from someone I knew and trusted - like if they were moving or something similar.
September 12th, 2008 at 10:36 am
I agree with everyone else. I could not survive without my freezer LOL. No really though.
My DH hunts so I get lots of meat. But I stil buy meat when it is on good sale.
But I don’t just use it for meat. I store all kinds of veggies, breads, milk, boxed mixes (like pancake and brownies and stuff).
You can store almost (lettuce is a no no) anything in there.
I have an upright and I like that I can reach everything (I am a pretty short person). I used to have a chest type freezer and I would almost have to get in the freezer to get anything out. This is much more convient for me.
On the other hand I have one that the shelves are connected to the unit. So if you have something larger than the space in the shelves (like a while bear hide - worth a ton of $ once turned into a rug) then you are out of luck.
September 12th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
I love my freezer. I grew up with one and it was one of the things I bought with gift money from my wedding. I went with an upright, because for me it is much easier to use and orgnaize. I am also not that tall so reaching down into the bottom of a chest freezer just doesn’t work very well. I buy meat and bread and go berry picking in season and freeze them. I also go apple picking in the fall and make applesauce. That way I have quality fruit all winter. Recently I have also been cooking large batches of things to have redy made meals in the freezer. That has cut down trhe impulse pizza or going out for us a lot. When I first got the freezer I went ot the library and found a cook book that was all about how to freeze different foods. I scanned much of it into my computer for reference. I definately feel I have gotten my moneys worth.
September 12th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
We just bought an upright at a garage sale for $15. I was thinking about another freezer but not ready to spend a lot. This one is a smaller upright but for the price I felt like I could sell it for $15 if I upgrade later. I have two side by side refrigerators(one in the garage) and my new to me freezer. I feel that the savings of spending $15 vs $200 on this freezer is worth not having a “newer model.” It is supposed to take about $8- $10 a month to run a freezer. I don’t think the cost difference of running them is worth paying the extra $185 on a freezer. Mine is not old looking so it may even be efficient. Keep them filled. If you don’t have food fill milk jugs and coke bottles or bag up your extra ice cubes and fill it up. You can really buy many more things at a better price having a freezer. If I were you I would just watch for a good used one. You can always make whatever you pay for it if you want to buy a new one later.
September 12th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Wow! I’ve been considering one as well, but have been holding off. All these posts make me rethink things. For now, we have a freezer/fridge combo, I guess. I’m not up on all the lingo. Basically, I have almost as much freezer space as I do fridge space. I seem to get plenty in it, so I don’t feel the need for a separate one. I guess it depends on how much freezer space you have with the new fridge and how much you want!
September 12th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
A word of caution:
A friend of mine used to keep her freezer stocked continually to save money, right up until she hit several power outs in one year. She lost a lot of food that way, and now finds it to risky to have the freezer full of bargin foods. It’s not a bargin if the food is never eaten.
September 12th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
We bought a used upright freezer 16 years ago. It even survived our “Flood of ‘06″. We keep it in the garage and have saved tons of $. We’re able to buy meat on sale and my husband and kids are excellent hunters.
September 12th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
We just got our first freezer! One way that we are going to fill it up is through Angel Food Ministries. You can get great meat deals and whenever we get more than one box our regular freezer is over flowing. So we are excited to get our first few Angel Food boxes!!
September 12th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
I have a small upright and it is really starting to ice up. IF I buy a new one I will buy a chest freezer. Kids are grown and we eat out a lot now - I am trying to use everything up and go without for a few months to see if I miss it.
That said - for a young family - heck yes you need freezer - I vote for a chest freezer with a lock.
September 12th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
We have a large chest freezer, given to use 2nd hand by my parents (their house already had one) We love it…it’s easy to purchase 1/4 cow once a year at a great price and know how it was feed and processed. It is also handy for DH who is a hunter and fisherman. I also purchase from the Schwan’s truck. Our refrig freezer keeps ice, freezer packs and breakfast sandwiches, our “beverage” frig (kitch frig is only 14 cubic feet, but came with the house) includes icecream and frozen desserts. We keep our chest freezer in our laundry room on the main floor. It’s the best even if the initial investment of 1/4 cow is costly it’s worth it in the long run and better product.
September 12th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
It’s all been said. Uprights are nicer, it’s easy to lose stuff in a chest freezer, I couldn’t live without it.
Now I just need to get my MealSaver into the loop!
And I’ve only had mine for about two weeks. It’s a small one my uncle gave when he moved into assisted living, and pretty new. Now I can stock up on staples and sale items. The frozen hamburger in tubes it great, just put it in a bowl in the refrigerator to thaw a day or so before you plan to use it.
And inventory helps, not just with frozen stuff, but with leftovers, contents of pantry, and spices. Helps when meal planning and when making up a shopping list.
James
“Many are chilled, but few are frozen.”
September 12th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I couldn’t live without a freezer! I prefer an upright to a chest freezer just because it is much easier to find things in. You can store not only the usual things such as meat, prepared dinners, etc; but also many dairy products. When cheese is on special I load up on it. Both shredded, chunks, or slices of cheese freeze well. Butter or margarine I buy on sale and freeze it. I used to have a very frugal neighbor that grocery shopped once a month and bought enough milk for a month and kept it frozen. Just thaw and use. Another item I keep in the freezer is nuts of any kind. Nuts have oil in them and they can get a rancid taste if not kept refrigerated or frozen. Having been raised on a “nut farm”, we always froze a lot of nuts.
Even my mom when she was in her 70s and 80s kept a very small chest freezer in her spare closet. My suggestion it to go and get a new one immediatel. That way you know it is efficient and you have a warranty if something goes wrong in the first year.
September 13th, 2008 at 4:20 am
I’m the contarian here, I did the chest freezer and side of beef and never used either ended up giving both away.
Even here in Europe where things are smaller I couldn’t use a chest freezer. I do lost of cooking but I simply plan carefully, when freezer is empty I cook some more.
I also allowed my pantry to run down as I found that I was over stocking on things, why have 20 of something if I don’t need it, I buy enought to last to the next sale. Only expection is when some that never goes on sale is on sale (like the wife’s fav cereral)
September 13th, 2008 at 6:44 am
I would like to have one but once every 3 years or so we seem to have a big power outage of 3 to 5 days.
Since I don’t have a garage I don’t have a place to keep a generator for when the power is out.
Of course if I learned to can I could can all the meat during a power outage to save it that way.
September 13th, 2008 at 7:14 am
We too have the long power outages, but usually if it’s just 3 days, the meat stays frozen.
A lot of what goes into my freezer is free - meaning my garden produce, game meat, fish, clams, and home raised beef. Therefore, while losing it is not good for the future economics, it is is not a lot of money lost - except the electric.
Therefore, I’ll keep filling the freezer even tho there is a small reoccuring chances of losing it. To me, it saves me enough in the long run to risk the possibility of the short term loss. Plus, if the electric comes back on in 4-6 days, enough of it is salvageble to be cooked, used or refrozen, or canned, or dehydrated. I do need to learn to use the canner on either my woodstove or a propane stove tho….. something new to learn!
September 13th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I just love our chest freezer. We thought long and hard about getting one. We lived in a small apartment and our regular freezer just was not big enough. So we purchased a small 5 cubic ft one. For $150.I am so glad that we have. I love buying meat when it is on sale and having a place to put it.
Psst. I noticed they have the same freezer on sale at our Walmart for $169
September 13th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
We just bought a 5.5 cubic foot freezer last weekend. It was under $200. Somethings I’m looking forward to putting in it are bags of individually frozen chicken when it goes on sale, bags of shredded cheese from Costco, (I’m hoping to cut my trips to Costco to every other month instead of every month - that should save some money!) and things like corn dogs and chicken nuggets from Costco (they are cheaper when I buy them there, but I rarely have room for them in our freezer).
September 14th, 2008 at 5:48 am
I would highly recommend an UPRIGHT freezer. I have a chest freezer now, and it is great to store all the deals I find. However, a chest freezer is hard to deal with because you can’t see what is on the bottom. In our case, we recently bought a whole hog. It is impossible to get to the things on the bottom of our now full freezer. You have to UNLOAD everything to get there. YES, get a freezer, but an upright will service you better.
September 14th, 2008 at 6:40 am
We have an upright freezer, and I don’t know how i lived without it. We belong to Sam’s club, and their chicken and meat prices are much lower than the grocery store, but, you need to break apart the packages, and need someplace to put them. So, I have a shelf dedicated to meat. My family also loves these Jimmy Dean Turkey sausage and egg and cheese muffins, and it is much more economical to buy at Sam’s and I buy 2 large boxes. I also stockpile on frozen veggies and keep them in my freezer. I store bread in there, too. It is definitely something that we cannot live without.
We got an upright, only because my dh was afraid that the kids would fall into a chest and get frozen, seriously! He felt it was safer with the kids around. I like it, because you don’t have to dig down for things.
September 14th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Hello!
First off, I’m happy for you and your family that you’re in your new home. I hope you’ll spend many happy years together in it!
Now, about the freezer: I think a large chest freezer makes sense if you have a garden and plan on freezing the summer’s worth of produce, but I wouldn’t buy one just to stock up on frozen foods from the grocer’s when they’re on sale.
One factor you might want to consider is how much electricity a freezer will gobble up, and whether the energy costs will outweigh the potential food savings.
One more thing: Thank you for this blog. Your articles are always interesting. I really enjoy reading them.
Kind regards,
Joshua
September 14th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
We love our freezer! We bought a 5.5cubic ft for less than $200. We are a family of five and it seems like a great size!
Because full freezers use less energy than partial full ones, right after we purchased ours, before we had filled it completely with food, I would freeze old milk jugs mostly full of water. Then as I filled the freezer with good deals, I could take jugs out insuring that the freezer was always as full as possible.
September 14th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Match that freezer with a vacuum sealer (like FoodSaver from Tilia) and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them!
September 14th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
BTW.. I bought Sears cheapest model 20 years ago and not a bit of trouble.
September 15th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Appliances are very costly — but I think a freezer is definitely worth the investment! In the long run — I think they truly do help save money.
September 15th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
i totally think buying a freezer is a great idea. i do all my cooking on the weekends. i cook my barley, and beans and stick it in the freezer. i also have my costco chicken i throw in the freezer. i’m just by myself but if i had a whole family, i can easily see how it would be economical. get a new one vs. used. jmho.
September 16th, 2008 at 5:31 am
I haven’t been able to read all of the 52 other comments, so I hope I’m not repeating too much of what others have said. However, I did want to let you know that we have a chest freezer and it’s been a great money saver for us! I shop once a month and prepare meals ahead of time to be frozen until we’re ready to use. There’s no way all that food would fit in our refrigerator freezer unit. Sometimes, it would be nicer to have an upright (we wouldn’t have to take out the 15 packages of ground beef to get to the 1 package of turkey on the bottom), but we have been very pleased with our Holiday brand appliance (was purchased at Lowe’s). We feel like it’s been a great product and we didn’t pay a lot of money for it! Good luck!
September 16th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
I don’t understand how a singe person, or even some couples could use a freezer. I enjoy cooking (but not baking) and I have to be careful not to make too much. Yesterday I made a large batch of Cocido (a Spanish stew) and I plan to give most of it away as I still have food left over that needs to be eaten from the last batch of cooking I did. As well I want to make a Brayntof (German Stew) same thing, most of it will be for a potluck after church this week.
Part of it is the Wife and I tend to eat small meals at night, she’ll have an egg and I’ll have a sandwich or if she’s travelling I’ll eat out.
My Wife and I tend to eat small meals (such as eggs or a sandwich) during the week and salads on the weekend and very occasionally a big meal. I barely use the freezer I have on top of the fridge.
As to the stocking up theory, I simply wait for things to go on sale and buy enough to last to the next sale.
September 17th, 2008 at 5:56 am
When we bought our house, there was a chest freezer in the garage. We asked the former owners if we could have it with the house and they agreed. Until this summer (our second in the house) it had never been turned on. Now we have about 15lbs of black raspberries, 20 lbs of blueberries, 8 containers of homemade spaghetti sauce, chicken and various cuts of beef in it. There are also two storage containers of stuffed peppers and one large casserole dish of macaroni and cheese in there. Once my husband begins hunting season, there will also be venison in there in various cuts. It is a great way to keep those summer garden vegetables for the fall and winter. We are planning on buying a 1/4 cow and by then the freezer will be exploding!
I think it is well worth it if you buy in bulk, freeze ahead meals, store summer veggies or make a lot of food yourself. I will make cinnamon rolls, bake half and freeze the rest. There is no way that I would want to keep a big pan of rolls in my regular freezer.
September 17th, 2008 at 6:08 am
Wow, thanks for all the comments! I think we’re going to go for it, but since we’re not in a hurry, I might watch Craigslist to see if I can pick up a cheap newer model.
I know we’d use it, as I pick berries & make freezer jam in the summer. I also like to buy ahead when there are sales. And I’m thinking that making some meals ahead might help my bad eating out habit.
September 17th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Lynnae - if you cook double ahead and freeze one it should definitely help the eating out! And I like to have meals ahead for when company or the out of town kids/grandkids show up. They get Mom’s homecooking without my having to cook, so I can enjoy the grandkids instead! Right now there’s homemade Lasagna, Chicken and Yellow Rice, Ham and White Bean soup, (all family favs) various veggie dishes, and frozen marbled brownies. Makes it so easy! Plus leftovers packaged in meals for me to take to work for lunch! Enjoy!
September 17th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Wow, I just stumbled onto your blog and here I find you asking about a topic I tackled recently in three separate posts, the first of which can be found here:
http://livingthefrugallife.blo.....r-you.html
I wouldn’t be without my chest freezer, but there’s definitely a learning curve to using it efficiently. My only qualms involve post apocalyptic scenarios where the electricity gets cut off and I’m facing a freezer full of thawed food that we’ll never eat up before it goes off. Anyway, I’m confident that we save a great deal by having the chest freezer. Maybe my posts will help you think through your decision.
February 4th, 2009 at 8:17 am
Freezers are wonderful! We got ours from Freecycle.com and its a bit battered, but otherwise very useful. I like freezers because you can stock up on all the wonderful sale items like bread, juice, frozen veggies (if you didn’t put enough up), etc. Also, if you find someone to go in on a cow or pig with you you can buy a 1/2 or 1/4 cow or pig and really save some money on meat. Often it is much less than the supermarket prices per pound and because you know who you are buying it from, it is also better for you.
March 11th, 2009 at 2:31 am
I have had a chest freezer for many years, and used it religiously, we once had 128 boxes of (generic) Cheez-It and Ritz crackers that we bought for $.25 a box- we had crackers for two years for $35. (About 90% off, and they froze BEAUTIFULLY) I buy frozen vegeatables on sale, the chopped onions and ready made ’soup starters’ are so convenient, and if you find the right sale, much cheaper than fresh.
A WORD OF WARNING-
We just went on vacation, and while we were gone we experienced a power outage. All the clocks were flashing when we returned, and sure enough- everything in our freezer was gone. I was devastated, but I still don’t regret using a freezer. I don’t think that even with the approx $600 loss in food, we have even scratched the savings that we’ve had over the last 10 years.
THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER:
1) Put in a thaw indicator- ***EASY and FREE***- Take an old plastic peanut butter jar (something with a screw on lid) fill it halfway full of water- put it in the freezer and let it freeze. Then- FLIP IT UPSIDE DOWN and put it back in your freezer. The ice will then be at the TOP of your jar, and if there ever is a thaw you will know that the freezer has gone above freezing because the water has thawed and re-frozen at the bottom of your container. Sometimes power goes out without your knowledge for an extended length of time (for example utility companies working in the area)
2)Filling milk jugs with water and freeze them along with your food. The more frozen stuff in your fidge, the longer it will stay cold when the power goes out. Air heats up much faster than a solid block of ice. So, if your freezer is not full, fill up the empty space with water jugs, that way if the power goes out those blocks of ice might buy you just enough time to save what is in the freezer.
3)CONSIDER THE POWER SOURCE YOUR FREEZER IS HOOKED UP TO. This is how we lost our freezer stash. We were gone on vacation, and the power went out. We had someone watching the house, so we know the power wasn’t out for long. HOWEVER, the outlet that the freezer was hooked up to in our garage was part of a ground fault circuit that only ran the outlets in the bathrooms. Our house-sitter had no idea that circuit had flipped because everything else was working. When the power came back on, that circuit did not get reset, and by the time we discovered it, it was too late. This seems like a one-off kind of deal, but it needs consideration.
-Make sure your freezer is not on a ground fault outlet- probably not a problem for most people, but check anyway
-Make sure that your outlet is secure (kids may knock the plug loose, especially if your freezer is in a high-traffic area, like the garage, near where you store other stuff they may get into)
-Check on your freezer regularly- you may catch an issue before it becomes a problem. IF the freezer fails- compressor goes out- whatever, you may catch it before you lose all your food. I used mine at least twice a day, so if I had NOT been on vacation, I would have discovered the problem before it was too late.
I miss my stash- My freezer was like a grocery store. Even when I hadn’t bought groceries for weeks there was always SOMETHING in the freezer I could throw together for dinner. Now all I have is a box of popsicles and a can of frozen concentrated OJ. Its going to take me a while to recover, BUT on the bright side I won’t have to figure out how to use the box of salmon patties that we bought during a moment of insanity last month at Sam’s.
March 12th, 2009 at 4:38 am
I am probably on the fringe-side of normal freezer ownership: sort of a baglady-at-home. I have a 10 year old Sears that is not self- defrosting but when ice builds up, I just throw everything onto an old shower curtain and srrape down the inside with a plastic pancake flapper dipped into hot water onto a sheet of plastic placed on the freezer bottom. This only takes about 15 minutes. The process is actually a good opportunity to assess what’s stored. I never blanch anything and find it works great-perhaps because most of my stuff gets cooked eventually anyway. I label a lot but have evolved into using clear plastic bags for produce one year and then blue the next, so I make sure to use up one year’s stuff before the next. (Right now I am frantically eating up all the blue bags, which is a good spring diet too.) Perhaps I shouldn’t mention this but since I am the only one eating the frozen leafy greens (just an 87 year old husband and a middle-aged floozie here) last year I just harvested right after a night rain and picked carefully (no outer leaves) and didn’t even wash them. (Not company fare-haha and perhaps a few extra minerals!) I use large clear plastic bags to loosely organize the small bags/packages into 4 sections: fruit, vegetables, bread etc. and meat/fish sections with a few discount turkeys floating around on the bottom part of the freezer. On top of that I have 3 fitted, easily removable wire baskets. where I can store things that need to be eaten soon, jars of homemade applesauce, soup, leftovers, frozen juice from reduced citrus, cooked dired beans, cheese, etc. I have elvolved into freezing and eating things like papaya seeds (peppery!), uncooked squash seeds, grape and fig leaves, daylilly, honeysuckle, rose and violet flowers (and leaves),raw coconut, (shredded with brown skin on)- not that I am advising anyone else to eat these things! This January the local IGA sold me all of the left-over loose nuts for practically nothing, so I’ve frozen a ton of them. (Nuts for the nut!)
March 12th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
Not sure if anyone still reads this but for those that have long power outages - Try putting in dry ice for a chest freezer. You can’t keep the door opened long, but if you keep it opened just long enough to get the dry ice in you can keep the freezer cold for over 3 days.
My note on freezers - I live by myself and I have a small chest freezer and like the rest of the responders I stock up on meats when they are on sale. Because the freezer is small I work from sale to sale. I also bake my own bread, why spend $2 dollars on a loaf when to make one costs $.60 cents. I make a few loaves of different breads and freeze them. I like to cook with a lot of exotic ingreidents (banana Leaves for instance) so will freeze them when they go on sale.
I love my chest freezer.
March 13th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Another tip is to buy a freezer with commercial grade shelves. When my husband bought our freezer (10 years ago), it cost him $10 more for the one with commercial grade shelves. We found out the value of it after we were evacuated in a forest fire for 4 days. When we came home and opened our freezer, we were surprised to find almost everything still solidly frozen…except a few things, such as the hot dogs in the door. Our neighbors who had freezers were not as fortunate.
March 13th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
I guess I should have mentioned that the power was out for 4 days.
March 14th, 2009 at 9:04 am
Note we don’t have kids, but we only use the small three drawer freezer in the bottom of the fridge but I am slowly getting rid of my pantry as well. A lot of it has to do with the fact the wife and I are getting older and our metabolism is slowing. I’m finding that I don’t need to eat as much. A typical breakfasted used to be 2 eggs bacon toast, toast jam coffee juice etc. Now it’s a small bowl of cereal, single egg or a piece of toast. That is the biggest reason for getting rid of the pantry. I still using food I bought a year ago. Eating less means less shopping so I’m less concered about price more about portion size.
Now my father/mother in law still have a freezer but they love gardening and freeze alot of stuff.
April 5th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
My household is just the two of us, and we definitely benefit from having a chest freezer. Just the savings on beef alone make it worthwhile. We pay $2.30 per pound for a mixed quarter of beef from a small farmer. We get extra lean ground beef (90-95% lean) in 1 pound packages and all of our roasts and steaks for the same low price. We can’t get that price on even the average ground beef (85% lean is usually more than that). I’m also able to stock up on other items and freeze extra produce from our garden. Once we begin growing our family, we will definitely see a huge increase in our savings.