Freezer Sales Climb as People Try to Save Money on Food

Check out this article that says freezer sales are rising because people are trying to save money on food. The details:

Across the country, shoppers bought more than 1.1 million freezers during the first six months of the year — up more than 7 percent from the same period last year, according to research firm NPD Group.

That rings up to nearly $400 million in freezer sales — a staggering figure compared to the rest of the home appliance sector, where industry data shows shipments are down nearly 8 percent.

And, experts said, it's a trend that's expected to continue at least through much of next year as penny-pinching shoppers buy in bulk to take advantage of deals or bundle grocery shopping trips to conserve gas.

We've had a small freezer in our basement for several years now and we LOVE it. It does the same thing for us that our pantry does for non-frozen foods -- allows us to buy more when items are on sale and store them for future use. In particular, we save a TON on meat by using our freezer.

The article says that about half of all U.S. households already have a chest or upright freezer, separate from the refrigerator-freezer combination that most people have. So there's still a lot of savings to be had (assuming you have the room.)

How about you? Anyone else have a freezer they use to save money? How does it help you save (and on what)?

Comments

[MoneyGrubbingLawyer]

I had absolutely no idea that so many people didn't already have freezers. I've always thought of it as essential an appliance as a fridge or a stove.

We find our freezer great for storing pre-made meals and leftovers. It's also great for stocking up on meat when it's on sale. And of course, if you're a hunter you had better either have a freezer or be able to eat a few hundred pounds of meat in a few days :).

[Richard]

There's never been a place for one in any of our rentals. When we move next year though we'll be getting one, I'm sure.

We use the freezer part of our fridge to store leftovers, ready-to-eat meals, and cases of meat when they go on sale. If we only had more space in there...

[Jordan]

My girlfriend and I are currently trying to decide which piece of furniture to move/sell to accommodate a small chest freezer for the apartment.

[Momma]

We bought one last winter and couldn't be happier. I'm the coupon queen, so we stock up a LOT. Actually, the children call the deep freeze the "Frozen Foods Section" because our pantry and freezers are stocked so well.

[Bad_Brad]

My father-in-law raises cattle, so any time we go to visit, we take as many ice chests as we can fit in the car, and the free ground beef goes right into the deep freeze. Failing that, we have been known to go in with a neighbor and buy a side of beef from the nearest packing plant and keep it in the deep freeze.

I also stock up on microwave meals when the grocery stores put them on sale for $2 each or less. I've been known to buy 50+ of them and throw them in the deep freeze.

[Ben]

I looked into it once and for me the purchase price plus electricity cost was more than what I estimated I would save over my life (assuming the freezer lasted forever). I didn't factor this in, but an extended power outage could also destroy (in a smelly sort of way) your food stock.

[Colin]

I've looked at getting a freezer, but we'd have to keep it in the garage, which, in Arizona, will be more than 100 degrees in summer. I think freezers can be energy hogs in those conditions, so I'm not sure the savings would be there for us.

[Lauren]

When we buy a house, we're going to get a large freezer for the garage or basement. I want to make food in advance to save time, stock up on seasonal vegetables and fruits throughout the year, and buy in bulk. I am very excited about it, which I think makes me kind of a nerd.

[SAHM]

I'm still amazed that it isn't standard with anyone that has children. I don't have time to go to the grocery store every time I need meat. It is by far the best investment we have made. My husband even had one when he was a bachelor because he avoided the grocery store as much as possible, but is WAAAAYYY to cheap to eat out. We had to put his first one to rest several years ago. We immediately went out and bought a new one, and money was tight at that time. We knew just how valuable they are!

We've always kept ours in the garage and we have lived in Central Florida and HOTlanta!

[Mary@SimplyForties]

I have an extra refrigerator/freezer that someone gave me. I'm not sure it's saving me a lot of money but it sure is handy. I keep it in my shop and when I'm having a yard party I put all the beer and soda in there so people can help themselves without having to track through the house. I also keep my party food in there as I am creating it, which helps keep my house fridge from getting too full. I don't exactly stock up at the store but the freezer is full of homemade stocks, soups, and extra helpings of various things. It's so handy I'd hate to go back to having just one!

[Brad]

We already have an extra refrigerator, moved inside from the garage (in a "storage room" off the kitchen). We are still tight on freezer space, especially with my son and his wife back at home for a while.

The problem is figuring out what brand of freezer to buy. What features are good? Automatic or manual defrost? I like the former, but I read that it dries food out, not a good thing for what I would plan with the freezer.

I am also looking for a new dishwasher, so figuring out the right appliance is key for me.

Any good, reliable comparisons outside Consumer Reports? (They have been known for their own flaws in the past.)

Brad