They say things happen in threes and I live in fear of my household appliances having some kind of wordless conference with them voting which three of them will give up the ghost at the same time.
It makes sense to set aside some savings for that dreadful day when one of your vital kitchen appliances dies in action.
But you don't have to dash out to the store straight away. Consider calling a repair expert or search online for high quality used appliances for sale. You can probably pick up a used and reconditioned unit for a fraction of the pice of a brand new model.
I'm not sure which three gadgets I would miss the most. My washing machine would probably have to be up there. Although the days of having to do four or more loads a day are gone now some of my tribe have left home, I still do at least one large load a day, seven days a week. I do two loads on Christmas Eve so I don't have to deal with laundry on Christmas Day.
I could possibly live without my tumble dryer but my husband really hates washing hanging all over the place. My Victorian style roof airer with pulley can handle an average load but I usually dry towels and bedding in the tumble because our water is really hard and I like soft towels and sheets.
In the height of summer I hang washing outside but I'm embarrassed to admit when I am super busy (most of the time) washing has been known to stay out overnight.
I suppose I have to put my range cooker in the "must keep" pile. When my children come home, often with partners in tow (and a grandson soon to be added to the crowd) I cannot manage without my six gas rings and double oven.
Having said that I am a whizz on a single burner camping stove and travel BBQ although that might prove challenging at big family parties!
I definitely couldn't do without my fridge-freezer. From meal planning shops to bulk buying my freezer has saved me a fortune, especially since I am a big fan of discounted food and those apps which offer food about to go out of date for free.
There are not many foods that can't be frozen and I especially love accepting gifts of rhubarb, rasberries and other fruit or game meat like pheasant or venison and freezing them ready for a budget supper party.
We have a large fridge freezer because even with just three children currently living full time at home, there are always people opening the door looking for sustenance. Only today my 20 year old daughter turned up looking for lunch!
My son has just had a used dishwasher installed and he got a better brand than he would have been able to afford brand new. I love a bargain so the idea of getting something cheaper than I expected always delights me. It's good for the environment too.
If you are going to choose the pre-loved pathway, always buy from someone reputable who can show you the appliance working or who can offer you a guarantee.
Don't worry about installation - it's quite easy to find someone who will do this quickly and easily if you don't fancy it although if you are replacing an existing gadget like a washing machine or dishwasher it's usually quite simple to just use existing fittings to plumb your new gadget in.
Don't forget to dispose of your old appliance responsibly. Fridges and freezers in particular should be disposed of in accordance with local regulations.