Home Appliances Checklist: What to Buy Now VS Later, When on a Budget

Prioritising what actually matters.

Between a five- or six-figure renovation, a wedding and honeymoon, many first-time homeowners find themselves strapped for cash by the time they’re shopping for appliances.

The good news is that you don’t have to get everything at once, because not all appliances are equally important. Some are absolutely crucial, some make life easier, while others are just… nice to have.

Of course, the category that each appliance falls within ultimately depends on your household’s lifestyle habits. Nonetheless, here’s a general list of what to prioritise, especially if you’re working on a tight budget:

Move-in essentials

These are appliances that keep your home functional and of utmost priority. Skip them, and you’ll feel the impact within days.

That said, what’s considered “essential” for some households may not be so for others. For instance, if you don’t cook at all, a microwave oven to reheat takeout may be more essential than a cooking hob. Feel free to shift items across categories where you deem fit.

General

• Air con units*
• Ceiling fans*
• Vacuum cleaner
• Iron

Kitchen/pantry

• Fridge
• Cooking hob (gas or induction)

Bathroom

• Water heater

Yard

• Washing machine

*Strictly speaking, air conditioning is not a necessity. However, we’ve included it in this section because installation requires trunking that’s best done when renovating your new home. As such, we’d suggest prioritising air con units at the move-in stage.

Likewise, do let your ID know if you intend to install ceiling fans so that he/she can plan for additional power points and/or a false ceiling where required.

Good-to-haves/convenience boosters

These include appliances that you will use often or save time and/or effort, but are not absolute necessities. You can therefore afford to wait a few months (or until there's a sale) before purchasing them.

Would you replace an appliance immediately if it were to spoil? If the answer is not a definitive “yes”, it’s likely that an appliance belongs in this category.

General

• TV
• Robot vacuum

Kitchen/pantry

• Oven/microwave oven
• Water dispenser*
• Airfryer
• Rice cooker/multi-cooker/pressure cooker
• Cooking hood
• Dishwasher*

Yard

• Dryer/automated laundry rack

*Water piping and electrical provisions need to be made during renovation for tankless water dispensers and dishwashers — so do let your ID know even if you are only planning on buying them down the line!

Nice-to-haves/lifestyle luxuries

Lastly, the following appliances elevate daily living, and can be easily set up even after your renovation is complete. More often than not, they also represent aspirational living, and are therefore best purchased after you’ve lived in your new home for a while and have a better sense of how you use each space.

General

• Digital lock
• Soundbar
• Air purifier/dehumidifier

Kitchen/pantry

• Coffee machine
• Other niche kitchen appliances (e.g. thermomix)

Buy for the home you live in — not the one you imagine

Still undecided about which category an appliance falls under? A useful litmus test is to ask yourself the following questions:

• Usage: Daily / Weekly / Rarely
• Time/effort saved: High / Medium / Low
• Skip risk: What happens if you don’t buy it?

Once you’ve answered the above, you’ll likely know which category each appliance belongs to, based on your lifestyle habits.

Happy home living!