Moving overseas-take small appliances with me?

[4speedy]

I’m on the fence about updated some small kitchen appliances for use here in the US.  We are looking at moving overseas in about 5-7 months and would stay for a couple of years.  I’m not going to buy anything new if I just have to pay to store it in a few months.

When you moved overseas, did you take small appliances with you and just make use of adapters/converters?  I’m not sure if that is a long term solution or if that would fry the appliance after a few months.  Any danger to having multiple converters all over the new house? Did you take appliances or just buy the basics when you got to your new location?

[origami]

We only took crockpots because I wasn’t sure if they had any I could rent (and understand). The transformers were included with our lease so ask for that to be included in yours too. They worked great for the crockpots but failed with our DVD player and it got fried. So I would say the frying is a risk and not to take anything you’d be upset to lose. Plus you can rent anything and have it included in your lease. We rented a toaster, blender, coffee pot, etc.

[rupertpenny]

It depends on where you are moving to some degree.

Really the only electronics we brought were our laptop and phones which we knew would be fine with a converter. I didn’t want to fool around with adapters.

I miss my stand mixer and huge food processor, but I didn’t want to take the chance that they would fry and I honestly don’t have space for them anyway.

[cattledogkisses]

We bought most of our small appliances after we moved. We were provided with transformers, but they're big and heavy, and we don't have enough of them for all the appliances so we would have had to keep swapping them out and moving them around. Plus, with appliances like a crockpot where you're leaving them on all day we were worried about overheating and having them become a fire hazard even with the transformer.

Looking around our apartment, I think the only things we have on a transformer right now are our TV and my electric piano.

Off the top of my head, appliances we bought included toaster, hand mixer, coffee maker, food processor, and hair dryer.

[mrsukyankee]

Nada. There wasn't enough room in my flats kitchen to make it worthwhile. I found good used stuff in London after I moved.

[cattledogkisses]

I don't know where you're moving, but it may be worth seeing if there are any expat groups in your area where people may be posting things for sale. We picked up several items cheaply from people who were moving and looking to get rid of their 220V appliances.

[jennybee1018]

We moved from the US to Doha, and the only electronics we brought were our laptops/phones. I put all my kitchen appliances into storage b/c we didn’t want to worry about using transformers.

If you have anything that is dual voltage, that would be worth it. I have a gHD flat iron that is dual voltage so I did bring that with me! Otherwise, we bought stuff once we moved (and we’re fortunate b/c our employer provides housing & basic appliances).

[oneslybookworm]

When we moved overseas to Europe (expat, so company was moving us) we bought the major small appliances that we used online, at 220depot. They came with 220V and the european plug, but this way I didn't have to look all over hell's half acre trying to find my American appliances in Europe (the crockpot was probably the "must have" out of everything)

[pittpurple]

Just agreeing with everyone - we brought DH's xbox and we still have it (12 years later!) with a transformer but nothing else was worth it. Transformers are huge and bulky and expensive so it's easier / safer just to get stuff that works properly.

My SIL didn't realise the voltage was different and fried her straighteners when she visited. And blew our fuses

(Laptops / phones work everywhere so we brought those)

[Aloe Vera]

Don't bring any. My neighbor is from Spain and she brought all her electronics with her when she moved to the US (TV, vacuum cleaner, food processors...). She ended up frying some and returned the other ones to Spain when she visited family because vacuuming with a 20 lbs transformer was limiting. Her food processor was the worst. Not only did the 20 lbs transformer took all the counter space, but the power was lowered.
She is in Spain right now and she was carrying her vacuum cleaner with her. She gave it to her SIL because it was such a PITA to use in the US. Her H is like a platinum member with an airline so she can have the extra luggage. I believe every trip she made in the last 5-6 years, she was bringing back an appliance.

[dutchgirl678]

I agree that most appliances from the US do not work elsewhere so I wouldn't take them. We bought everything new when we moved and now that we are moving back I am selling / donating everything again.