is it more worth it to rent or buy microwaves/fridges?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Virginia
1

<p>I was looking at the Microfridge renting program: The</a> Melvin Corporation</p>

<p>Here's the price:</p>

<p>
[quote]
3. The Microfridge unit leases for $198.45 per academic year or $119.13 for one semester. When splitting costs with a roommate, you cut the cost in half.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>And the way basic features are marketed is hilarious:</p>

<p>
[quote]
microwave: </p>

<ul>
<li>Chime signals end-of-cooking cycle</li>
<li>Turntable system design provides superior, even cooking</li>
</ul>

<p>fridge/freezer:</p>

<ul>
<li>Real freezer keeps ice cubes, frozen foods, ice cream truly frozen

[/quote]
</li>
</ul>

<p>Good to know, right? ;)</p>

<p>It just doesn't seem to be worth it. Googling "microfridges" gets me this: Micro</a> Fridge MFR-3 Two Door 3.2 cu. ft. Refrig/Freezer Only. It's for hotels and apparently meant to be mass-bought, but if I buy one, even after shipping of 95 dollars (right to my future housing unit?), it comes out to 450 dollars. And maybe with a sixty dollar microwave, this comes out to 510. </p>

<p>If I rent a microfridge for all my four years at UVA, and split the costs with a roommate each year, my total bill will be 396 dollars. And then I still have graduate school. Isn't it a more sensible investment to buy one for yourself, for the next ten years? </p>

<p>Of course, I haven't factored in possible storage costs -- the main advantage I think is convenience. But hey, all I have to do over the summer is just <em>lend</em> it to someone (a summer student?) for free, right? And I won't be able to split it with my roommate after we part, but I suppose one of us will have to make the investment, and the other just pay a small yearly fee.</p>

<p>The one thing that throws me off is that I may not live in the same housing unit for all my four years (and especially probably not after). If I'm living in the IRC at Gwathmey, do I even need a "microfridge" for my own room (will the communal kitchen suffice?), and I suppose I can't count on having a secure position at the same place next year?</p>

<p>The last thing: I assume you can't bill your financial aid account for this program, can you?</p>

2

<p>Do you really need a fridge? You can probably buy one for a lot cheaper than that at Best Buy in town. You might be able to get your roommate to split the purchase of one and then figure out some way to get it back to your room. The only thing I used a fridge for during my first year was beer, and while it was useful in that capacity, I could have gotten along just fine using someone else's fridge.</p>

<p>I guess paying for the service would be convenient, but it's also fairly expensive. And why are you counting on going to graduate school already? You haven't even started your first year. Keep your options open and don't even begin to commit to anything just yet.</p>

3

<p>hahah oh Cav...</p>

<p>My advice is see if your roommate is willing to buy it. I suggest NOT splitting the cost, because then you get to the end of the year and have to figure out who gets it. However, I think Cav is right in that you can easily find a cheap fridge (under $100) at Best Buy or Bed Bath & Beyond or Home Depot/Lowes. All of those are near UVA. Just get a small one, and microwave's you can get cheap too. I suggest at least having a microwave, as you can cook little soups and stuff in it. A small fridge is nice, but not a necessity.
Also, another option is look on Craigslist.com and search for people selling small fridges and microwaves. You can just go down and arrange for it to be delievered, most people are okay with that since you're college.</p>

4

<p>Personally, I'd buy a microwave and a mini fridge so I can have them in my dorms. If you move into an apartment, you can have them in your room for convenience and personal use.</p>

5

<p>Yup. I'm hating life having to ask my parents for a mini-fridge for my third-year of college so I can have some cold space to myself in my too-expensive apartment.</p>

6

<p>Having a minifridge when you're in an apartment with friends is good for two reasons:</p>

<p>1) So your friends don't steal your beer </p>

<p>2) So your friends don't steal the coolest food items you've got (cake, leftover chinese food, etc)</p>

7

<p>Amen.</p>

<p>Popular stolen food items: ice cream, cake, cheese, frozen lemonade, chicken nuggets, and sodas. Oh, and the staple food/drink item. Refer to Cavs post. I wish I had one last year. Five people to one fridge sucked @$$.</p>

8

<p>Yeah don't rent, buy one yourself. Besides the price, I rented my first year, and it was atrocious, really bad experience, just stay away from that and buy one yourself and you'll be fine. I bought a brand new microwave at Walmart for $50 in CVille and I'm sure you can find a deal for the fridge or have your roommate get one and you the other. Your first year your parents will help you lug it all home, and you'll proly end up storing it 2nd year onwards with other things anyways so don't worry about that, it's definitely cheaper to just get one unless you live REALLY far away and will be REALLY inconvenienced by having to lug it around.
Also don't forget to unplug and open and put a towel under your mini fridge during winter break or you will be really sorry (trust me!!).</p>

9

<p>galoisien, correct me if i'm wrong, but isn't your sister going to college within the next few years as well? you could always buy the mini fridge and if you find that you don't need it 2nd year or later, she could use it. I'm thinking that the mini fridges in Hereford are similar/the same ones that UVa rents, and if so don't rent. Those were GRIME. We went out to get beverages and when we opened the fridge, there was dried food on the side.</p>

10

<p>Somebody had a moldy fridge once ;) I had a friend who left theirs and their RA could smell it in his room it was so bad. I nearly flooded my dorm room freshman year de-frosting ours though. Stupid fridges.<br>
Suggestions continued: get one with a separate fridge/freezer if you can. They're 5.3 or 5.5 cu ft I think, but housing won't say anything about it. Having the freezer is super sweet to store ice cream and frozen pizzas in and such.</p>

11

<p>also, check onthegrounds.com (link below) it's like a craigslist for uva students.</p>

<p>UVA</a> housing & apartments, UVA textbooks, and UVA events</p>

12

<p>I have a separate micro and I bought a stainless-steel look fridge from Costco that has a separate real freezer w/doors big enough for gallon milk containers. It is hardy enough to last at least 4 years. </p>

<p>Housing has never said a thing but I keep the micro unplugged.</p>

13

<p>[url=<a href="http://www.hoohasit.com%5DHooHasIt.com%5B/url"&gt;http://www.hoohasit.com]HooHasIt.com[/url&lt;/a&gt;] is another good student-to-student marketplace.</p>

14

<p>Comparing the rental prices and the UVA Bookstore prices, it costs $20 more ($209.99) to buy it. That doesn't even strike me as a bad price for a fridge, microwave and surge suppressor. How does the rental company get away charging nearly the same price for it's miracle fridge/freezer that "keeps ice cream cold!!!"</p>

15

<p>they bring it and take it away? not really worth it but some ppl think it is.</p>

16

<p>I thought it was the best option as a first year, and I still think it's the best option as a fourth year. </p>

<p>Yes I purchased my own microwave and mini fridge my second year from costco for cheap, but you don't need one more thing to worry about first year. You get it through this company, it's there when you arrive on move in day, and they take it after you leave for the summer. The microwaves and fridges they provide are good appliances and I never had a problem with them.</p>

<p>Rent as a first year.</p>

17

<p>
[quote]
but you don't need one more thing to worry about first year.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Isn't the slightest addition of stress worth the savings of hundreds of dollars over four years?</p>

18

<p>I'd rather pay $200 once, and build up those abs carrying a fridge :D than pay $800 for some convenience.</p>

19

<p>I would just buy a microwave and a mini-fridge (if you like having one in your own room), period. For all four years, it will be more cost efficient and you're only going to be moving them around once every year. Renting is just not worth it.</p>

20

<p>Can't the company make a rent-to-own lease to us? That might be an attractive option.</p>

<p>Anyway, if your hall has a central kitchen and refrigerator on each floor, do you really need to buy your own fridge/microwave?</p>