11 Ways to Get Free Appliances for Low-Income Families

How to Get Free Appliances

Here’s where you can find free used appliances…

1. Craigslist

Craigslist is an awesome platform for free stuff because you can find pretty much everything for free there. I’ve seen everything from free furniture to free school supplies on the site.

You may be able to find someone giving away free appliances on there, whether that’s a freezer or a dryer.

To find freebies on the site, just go to your city’s Craigslist, and then look for the “Free” section, which can be found under the “For Sale” section.

Click on this link, and you’ll be taken to the “Free” section where you’ll find people who’re giving away free stuff nearby.

Because you’ll find stuff in a variety of categories here, you’ll want to filter the results to find appliances. You could simply enter the type of appliance you want, like “washer” or “refrigerator” into the search bar, hit enter, and you’ll get results near you.

While there won’t always be people giving away secondhand appliances on Craigslist, it’s certainly worth a look. Just remember to always meet in a public place and take somebody with you if you can whenever you meet up with someone from Craigslist.

2. Freecycle

Next on the list we have Freecycle, which is such a wonderful platform where people can give stuff away and get stuff for free. It’s a great concept that decreases waste and ensures that people can get the items they need at no cost.

On Freecycle, you’ll find a huge variety of free items, which can include appliances.

Have a browse of the site, and you may even be able to request a free appliance on there as well.

3. Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is another place to check for free appliances, such as stoves, and freezers.

While most people think of Facebook Marketplace as a site where people can buy and sell stuff locally, it’s actually a great place to find free stuff.

There’s a section on the site just for free items. Have a search of the free stuff section to see if anyone near you is giving away appliances. You can use the search bar on the site to find specific items.

There won’t always be free appliances available on there. It depends where you live of course, but it’s worth a look.

4. St. Vincent de Paul

St Vincent de Paul is a Catholic Volunteer organization that’s helped millions of people in need. The organization may be able to assist you if you need help purchasing necessary appliances. The organization provides resources, services, and assistance to those in need. Get in touch and see if they would be able to help you get some appliances.

You’ll need to contact your local Society of St. Vincent de Paul. You can find your local Society of St Vincent de Paul by following the link in the section heading above.

5. The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is another one to contact if you’re a low-income family looking for free appliances. The charity helps people to fulfill basic needs, which can include offering assistance with purchasing items like major appliances and furniture.

The Salvation Army helps people in a variety of ways, such as by donating items. Most often, assistance is provided in the form of vouchers for shopping at one of the organization’s distribution centers. The items available will depend on the donations the organization has received, so you will need to check what’s on offer.

To apply for vouchers, you will need to get in touch with your local Salvation Army. You can find your local Salvation Army by visiting the page linked in the section heading above.

6. OfferUp

Next on the list we have OfferUp, which you might know as a place where people can buy and sell stuff, yet it’s actually great for freebies as well.

There’s a section just for free stuff on OfferUp. There, you can find people giving away all sorts of items. The only problem is that all of the free items are just lumped together, so it can be hard to find what you’re looking for.

That’s why I would also recommend going to the site, entering the name of the item you want, like “dishwasher” into the search bar, and hitting search. You should get a list of results. Now, this will include appliances that you have to pay for, so to ensure you get the free ones, filter the results by “Price: Low to High.”

If someone is giving away some free used appliances on there, you’ll be able to view them from your search. And if there aren’t any free items that appear from your search, you should still be able to see the cheapest ones on the platform, and perhaps get yourself some great deals.

7. Listia

Next we have Listia. Now, this is an awesome app where you can find millions of free items that other people are giving away nearby. On the app, you can buy, sell or trade items, and you can even earn points for free gift cards.

If you have items to exchange, then this can be a good way to get rid of the stuff you don’t want and get the items you do need. It can be a little difficult to find the items you actually need, but it’s worth a try.

Here’s where you can get the app:

• Download Listia for Android devices here.
• Download Listia for iOS devices here.

8. Free Stuff App

Another really wonderful platform that anyone in need should check out is Free Stuff. This is an app that encourages people to give away the items they no longer need to someone who does need them rather than just throwing the stuff away.

It’s such a good concept because it prevents waste and helps those in need.

The app is very well-reviewed on the Google Play Store, with many people saying that they’ve found so many great free items on there that are in good condition as well.

Have a browse of the Free Stuff app to see if there are any items on there that you want. Overall, it’s great for finding free stuff near you.

9. Check with people who’re moving

If you know someone who’s moving, they may be giving away their old appliances. After all, the refrigerator or dishwasher may not fit into the person’s new home, or they just want to upgrade everything when they move.

If you know anyone who’s moving, ask them if they have any appliances that they won’t be taking with them to their new home. You could end up with a free appliance.

10. Ask at your local church

If you are struggling to afford appliances, then your local church may be able to assist you.

Simply explain your situation to them and ask if they know of any ways that you may be able to get free appliances locally.

Because they want to help people in need in their community, churches are a good resource for free items. Even if they don’t donate anything to you directly, they can often direct you to resources and assistance in your area.

11. Get Free Appliances Using the Government Assistance Program

The government has a few good assistance programs to help disabled folks and low income families who need help. One of those programs is LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program).

LIHEAP started back in the 1980 and is a way to help low income families deal with the ever increasing energy costs.

If you qualify for the program, you can get free appliances from the government.

While rules vary by state, the basic requirement is that your household income can not be more than 60% of the state’s median income or 150% of federal poverty guidelines.

To apply for the program, you may need the following:

To apply, you need to provide the following:

• Recent copies of Utility bills
• Recent Paystub or any other proof of income
• Unemployment, Social Security, Pension Funds, and other documentation

To learn more about the program and to apply, visit U.S. Department of Health & Human Services website.

Closing Thoughts

With so many resources out there from apps, to online marketplaces, to local charitable organizations, getting appliances for free is possible. Do give the tips on our list a try. Visit these sites, and apps, and get in touch with charities if you’re struggling to afford appliances.

Whether you are looking to save some money or are on a low income and need help paying for appliances, it’s good to know there are ways to get appliances for free.

Do you have any tips on how to get free used appliances? Be sure to share them with us in the comments section below.