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I love carbonated water. In particular, I really love Perrier (and San Pellegrino). It is a love affair that started around the age of seven and continues to this day. The thing is buying bottled water gets a little…expensive. And let’s be honest-it’s not the best thing for the environment either.
Every once in awhile it would be suggested to me that I should buy a Soda Stream* but I wasn’t excited about paying $100 for a machine to make carbonated water even after figuring out a break down of how much my seltzer water habit was coming me overtime.
Let’s take a look
I was averaging around around 5 4 packs of Perrier a month and at least 2 16oz bottles of shelter water a week.
- 4 packs=$3.99 x 5=$19.95
- 16 oz=$1.79x 2=$3.58
- Total=$23.53
- $23.53 X 12 months=$282.36 (sigh)
I actually think that I was spending more than that a year. Just like when I stopped shopping for clothes and discovered how much I was actually spending. Things have changed since my epic hack.
How The Hack Happened
I interviewed Mrs. Frugalwoods recently for my podcast Girl Gone Frugal. The Frugalwoods are known for their creative frugality and Mrs. Frugalwoods had very kindly encouraged me to invest in a soda stream and shared how happy she was with hers.
With that in mind, I started browsing amazon.com to see if there were any SodaStreams* on sale. There were some ok priced regular models but I, of course, liked the more expense model. Because that’s how I roll. So, I fell in love with the Kitchenaid Soda Stream…that was $200 dollars. There was no way that I would pay that price so I decided to keep checking for a sale or used model.
Instead I stumbled on a comment in the review stream for the Kitchenaid Soda Stream. The person was absolutely thrilled with their model and talked about it being on clearance! Then, they mentioned that they were from Denver. Well, I’m from Denver and the store that they purchased it from is closet to where I live. So I decided to stop by the store even though it was 2 weeks after they made the comment.
Good Thing I Did
I hustle myself over to the store and the Kitchenaid is nowhere to be found. I ask the sales associate if there were any machines left. She very kindly says that she will look downstairs (in the dungeon) to see if there were any machines left in the store. She also asked if I cared about the color, I told her “no!” Basically, there had been 3 left but they didn’t sell well because they were too expensive. LOL!
There Was one Left
In fact, they were about to send it back that week! So, here’s what happened and how I rocked my epic Kitchenaid Soda Stream Hack.
- The original price was $200.
- Clearance price $100 for the remaining Soda Stream.
- By the way-I did a side hustle that week and had $80 left on the gift card that I received for the one hour side hustle that I did.
- I used my gift card, so I only paid $20 out of my pocket for the $200 Soda Stream-NICE!!!
- Please note-there is the additional price for the bottles of carbon. So far I am still on my original bottle of carbon and we’re going on 5 weeks. A bottle can be exchanged for around $12.
- There are 52 weeks a year divided by one bottle every 5 weeks=10 bottles. I will pay around $120 for the replacements. BUT, I recently won a gift card so I will use that to purchase at least 4 of those bottles for around $48.
- That means out of pocket in a year will be: $20 (for the machine) + 72 replacements out of my pocket=$92 dollars.
- Original water expenditures: $282.36-$92 (post soda stream purchase)=a savings of $190.36 and better for the earth
I am in love with this machine. I am drinking a ton of my beloved bubbly water. And every time I rock an epic hack I’m super happy.
Lessons Learned
- Act quickly when you find out that there is an opportunity to rock a deal for an item that you’ve been looking at for awhile.
- Use side hustle money to purchase the item! I love my side hustles.
- Have a maximum amount that you will pay for the item. I didn’t want to pay more than $75 for the Soda Stream-out of pocket. I paid $20
- If you can put the item on hold so that you can keep the purchase from being an impulse buy-DO. You can spend that time finding additional coupons/coupon codes to apply towards the purchase.
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Do You Have A Soda Stream?
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Kirsten says
One thing I like (um, sorta) about our new phase in life is that I’m putting together an actual wish list for Christmas. No more going out to get whatever you want because you”need” it. Money is too tight. Anyway, I am longing for a Soda Stream – I’m a San Pelligrino fan of epic proportions!
Michelle says
That’s why I was so stoked that I was able to get this for only $20 bucks. Money is tight and I wasn’t changing my habit so this is very helpful 🙂
giulia says
I prefer natural/tap water while my father and my brother are sinìmilar to you, so I think in this case soda stream could be a good investment:P
Michelle says
I love my Soda Stream!! And I love that I didn’t pay too much for it.
Kristin says
I received a soda stream for my birthday and it’s been amazing. Like you, I’m totally addicted to carbonated water but was spending a small fortune each month. I average a new carbon refill every 6 weeks or so, and it’s so cheap to refill! I don’t know why I didn’t start using one sooner!
Michelle says
If Perrier asked me to be a spokesperson for its company-I would do it no questions asked! But, until then-Soda Stream forever.
moneypropeller says
Whoa, that’s a steal of a deal! I didn’t know Kitchenaid made them… they are so much prettier than the regular soda stream ones. My spouse really wants one, but I have been holding out on the purchase for over a year. We don’t go through a ton of the stuff, and would have a lot more if it was in-house. Thankfully my spouse is okay with doing the frugalwoods hack, if we do eventually get one. …now I want the pretty, way more expensive one though!! (it’s all your fault ;-))
Michelle says
YES!! I rocked the deal and I absolutely love it. The Frugalwoods hack is awesome but I am not techy enough to manage their new hack. I absolutely in love with my Soda stream!
Jennifer says
What do you use for the syrup to make San Pellegrino? My daughter LOVES the stuff, but it can get pretty expensive. We have a Soda Stream that we’ve had for a while, but haven’t used much lately.
Michelle says
I do not use syrup 🙂 Just water and carbon. I think you’re talking about the flavored San Pellegrino?? If I want flavor I just throw in a lemon. But I know there are flavor bottles that you can pick up from Bed Bath and Beyond.
Gene says
I missed the “hack” part about Pellegrino. Was thinking perhaps you concocted a mineral recipe to make and to the plain tap water and carbonation from soda stream to resemble Pellegrino