When we moved to our new (old) house, I liked everything but the kitchen. It was so bad that we tried not to eat there.  So we were going out to Applebee’s and McDonald’s three or four nights a week.  But hey, the name of our town is Jollyville.  We always have fun.

Even with the economic downturn.  Even since I went six months between jobs and our credit has gone to hell.  But every time I opened the door on that ancient harvest gold refrigerator, I lost my appetite.  

At the very least I wished for a new refrigerator because it would be more energy efficient, by up to a 40 percent savings. But the refrigerator I wanted was about $1000.  Add a stove, microwave and dishwasher and you’re up past $3000, maybe $4000.  But with bad credit, buying anything like that didn’t seem possible.

It got even more frustrating when I found out that some developers near Cedar Park were selling off new appliances from unsold townhomes. They wanted half price, less if you could bargain with them.  Brand new, never used, $400 on the very exact same model refrigerator I was looking at for $1000. The stove and dishwasher, everything in stainless steel, also about half price.  Total cost would be $1500.  

How would I take advantage of this unbelievable deal? I needed fast cash because you had to pick it up the following day.  

I own my truck, no more payments, so I went to Car Title Loans in Austin. They offered me $5,000 in a title loan.  All I needed was the $1500, so I filled out the online application.  The cash went electronically into my checking account the next morning.  The application takes 15 minutes, and you get approved in one hour.

The next day I had my new kitchen. We ENJOY eating in it, and we’re saving money on electricity.  My friends laughed at me for using a loans on car title in this situation. Until they realized it saved me more than $1500. I recommend it to anyone in a situation where you can buy big things at fire sale prices.

- Jeb K.