After recently purchasing a Thermomix after years of indecision, I look back and wish I hadn’t taken so long. It has gotten me thinking. A product costing over $2,500 AUD is not accessible to everybody. In fact, it is out of reach for some people.

Many people swear by how much money they save with their Thermomix. They are able to make delicious meals and snacks from scratch, saving on ready made goods. This not only reduces their weekly food bill but also packaging and food wastage.

Buying a Thermomix is like buying an electric car or solar. We all know that we can save money with them but they often have a large initial outlay. They are more expensive than their competitors in the market. It can be hard to justify the cost.

My husband and I took a long time to install more solar on our roof. We have reflected recently that if we had done it a decade ago, the government incentives and feed-in tariffs would have been a lot higher. It sucks because the people who would benefit most from the savings can rarely afford the huge upfront cost. Those who could afford a large roof solar system a few years back could both afford it and reaped the most benefits from their energy going back into the grid.

If you are struggling with the rising cost of living at the moment, you’ll know that every dollar counts. Groceries can hard to keep under budget. I know that I am finding it extra difficult.

Investing in an appliance like a Thermomix might cost more upfront but can save money in the long term.

What is included when you purchase a Thermomix?

The current cost of a Thermomix TM6 is $2,579 AUD at the time of writing.

It is smart and connected, and comes with a Varoma steaming attachment, measuring cup, simmering basket with lid, splash guard, butterfly whisk, spatula, ‘The Basic Cookbook’ and a 24-month warranty.

Your Thermomix also comes with a bonus 6-month subscription to Cookidoo, the online recipe library. An annual Cookidoo subscription is $69. This works out to around $1.33 per week. It is not a necessity but does make using your Thermomix that much easier.

How Can A Thermomix Save You Money?

• Making homemade lunch box snacks (rather than pre-packaged goods)
• Making homemade granola, muesli and yoghurt
• Helping to save money on allergies and intolerances
• Making ingredients dairy-free (eg. almond milk) and gluten-free (eg. rice flour)
• Needing to keep less ingredients on hand (ie blitzing sugar to make icing sugar on demand)
• Using up veggies that are past their prime
• Hiding veggies in food for fussy eaters
• Being able to make delicious food, quickly so you’re less likely to order in
• Can host parties and events with less stress
• Reduces the need to have multiple appliances
• Cooking from scratch instead of ordering meal kits like Hello Fresh or Dinnerly

So, what can you do to get one?

Here Are 4 Ways To Afford A Thermomix:

1. Save Up

I’ve put this on the top of the list because I think it’s the best way. The old fashioned way of waiting and saving is powerful. It builds up our saving muscle. It is delayed gratification. We only get the shiny new toy once we have parted with our hard earned money. I feel that once we have the item in our hot little hands, having to pay for it becomes a chore. The incentive is gone.

Saving for a large item like a Thermomix can feel impossible at first. It can help to have a separate account to use for this purpose. Sinking funds can be a useful way to put funds aside for specific goals and events, for example school fees, birthday presents, Christmas, holiday, wedding, furniture and appliance upgrades, renovations and house deposit. Many banks now offer multiple offset accounts so as you save, you reduce the interest payable on your mortgage.

Otherwise, at the time of writing interest rates are rising (quickly) which means interest earned on savings accounts is more attractive than they have been for some time.

Set up a direct debit from the account you are paid into your new Thermomix sinking fund. Allocate an amount that you can afford, knowing that you can easily adjust this at any time. You might start with a small amount fortnightly that automatically goes into your account and then realise that you can increase this.

Once you have saved up enough money to pay, you can simply change the name of the fund to whatever you like! Perhaps you want to save up for Solar to reduce how much electricity you are paying or even just the next round of swimming lessons for your children. Saving up to afford what you want is a feeling like no other. It puts you in the drivers seat of your life. It gives you back control and makes you feel like nothing is impossible.

You can either buy directly on the Thermomix website or you can buy via a consultant link. This doesn’t cost you any more but it means you are supporting a hard working consultant. Many are stay at home mums seeking to earn a little to help their families.

When paying for your Thermomix, I would ideally recommend using your debit card or your attached PayPal account. Did you know though, that PayPal charge the retailer a percentage of between 2.89 – 3.49% per transaction rate and 49c per transaction fee? I am guilty of using PayPal in the past merely because I couldn’t be bothered getting up from the couch or bed to walk to get my wallet. It doesn’t seem fair that a business should have to cop a fee for my laziness. For example, if you choose to pay with PayPal, Thermomix is charged $82 in fees.

Are they a big company? Yes. Can they afford it? Yes.

They also provide free shipping for such a large, heavy product and do look after their customers. If we can do the right thing by them too, it might just help future rising costs to a minimum.

This also goes for ordering in food. Delivery services like Uber Eats charge huge fees to the business (and the transaction costs you more too). Travel websites like Booking.com charge hosts between 10 and 25% commission. That is huge.

This is just something to consider when buying online, especially when you are buying from a small business.

If you must use a credit card, might I encourage you to pay the balance off in full each month. You can use them intentionally for credit card hacking. We once signed up for a credit card purely for the points. I remember seeing a post by Invest with Queenie about how she uses credit cards to her advantage and I thought it was so clever. As I was only working casually at the time, my application was rejected. I convinced hubby to apply and he was successful. I disliked how much they were lending and felt it was irresponsible. Still, we thought we’d try credit card hacking to see what all the fuss was about.

We used the credit card for groceries, bills and other expenses to pay for the minimum $2000 spend. We immediately transferred our own money across so we didn’t owe anything. After a waiting period of 2 months, we received 800,000 bonus points. We quickly exchanged these for $800 of JB Hi-Fi gift cards and bought a projector, Bluetooth speaker and laptop bag. We closed the credit card immediately after.

We won’t make this a regular thing as it is a bit of a hassle and can affect your credit score. However it can be super handy if you want to get cheaper flights or upgrades. If you’re wanting inspiration, follow pages like Tash Invests, Invest with Queenie or Aunt Kara.

2. Side Hustle

A side hustle might be helpful for you to earn a bit more cash to afford your Thermomix. It might help you to get across the line faster than traditional saving.

One thing I love about our new Thermomix is that it has removed the need to own multiple appliances. You could sell your mixer, blender and food processor and put the money towards one. Unfortunately my mixer had already broken, the blender had been given to me and was not in a good enough state to sell, and I had broken a part on our food processor so didn’t think I could sell that either. They still worked so gave both away on our local Buy Nothing group.

If you are suffocating in stuff, a big declutter might help. Decluttering can have three major benefits. Firstly, it can make your house feel lighter and bring more calm. Secondly, it will save you time. You won’t spend as much looking for lost items, picking up toys, washing and folding clothes and organising them all. Thirdly, decluttering can enable you to earn some cash. Many of the decluttering ‘experts’ tell you to walk around with a big garbage bag and throw it all in. They tell you to donate anything of good value to women’s or homeless shelters or your local op shop. These experts often warn against selling items of lower value citing that it is just not worth it, with some saying they won’t bother with anything under $50.

I respectfully disagree. For those of us on lower incomes, a single income or simply wanting to be savvy with money, every dollar counts. Perhaps for these authors they have forgotten what it was like to live on little. I have decluttered and sold over $10,000 of stuff from our home, yard and shed. I find that the cheaper items often sell quickly. Any item under $5 I leave by my door and ask them to leave the money under the mat if they are happy with the purchase. I tell them that my baby is napping, the dog will bark or my husband is sleeping after night shift so that it appears like someone is home (even if we’re not) for safety reasons.

If you want to save up for a purchase like a Thermomix, selling items might be a great option for you. Last week I found a Little Tikes car and Bunnings toddler slide in hard waste. I shoved them in the car, cleaned them up and made $50. I’ve been known to carry back large slippery dips and dining chairs that I’ve found while walking, ignoring the stares from those driving past as I struggle home with them. Anything for free money!

I have tried a range of side hustles in my time, like babysitting, mystery shopping, online surveys, cleaning, decluttering and content creating for apps. Currently when I’m not teaching or wrangling my own young children, I enjoy doing market research, selling on marketplace, blogging, selling on Teachers Pay Teachers and affiliate links. Some are small and don’t pay much, others pay me an amount per month and others vary depending on how much I work or sell. Over time these do add up and help you to achieve your financial goals.

If you are looking for side hustle inspiration, I list 30 ideas of things you can try here. Sometimes a side hustle can be purely to earn quick cash. Other times, it can be a great way to test if your hobby can turn into a hustle.

Keep your earnings in a jar or secret place in your house to put the cash in and a separate bank account for any money you earn online. A few years back, I secretly arranged to send my hubby to the AFL Grand Final to celebrate a big birthday. I wanted it to be a complete surprise so his brother booked it all and I gave him cash towards it. I sold $1300 worth of gear from around our home, found bargains in op shops and flipped them for profit, and sourced treasures from the side of the road to clean up and sell. This process took about 6 months. At the time, I had a two year old, was pregnant and working two days a week. I was tired but super motivated to reach my goal.

Seeing the coins and notes add up was exciting. I paid my brother in law twice and each time couldn’t believe how heavy the jars were. When we uncovered our surprise merely a week before the trip (having arranged leave from his work, flights, accomodation and tickets to the big game), I was so proud that it had all been saved up separately. It was such an achievement and it felt good.

3. Payment Plan

Thermomix provides options to apply for 24 months interest free payment plan with ZipPay. You could spread out the payments to around $25 a week over 2 years. There is a $7.95 monthly admin charge. No penalty to pay it off sooner but interest applies for any unpaid balance after the interest-free period has ended. If you could add this to your weekly budget without causing any financial stress, this might be an alternative. Please take time to read the fine print, like any unpaid purchase balance at the expiry of the interest free period will be charged interest at the standard annual percentage rate, currently 23.9%.

Easy 3 enables you to pay $1029 + $800 + $800. This adds an extra $50 to the cost. Whilst this makes it a little more expensive, I like that it is not a credit card with high interest or a personal loan. This appears to be quite a straight forward way of paying. If you can’t save up for it to pay in one chunk but still want to buy and have some of the funds available, this might be a good option for you.

AfterPay is also offered as an option. I personally don’t sugarcoat it and have written about the dangers of AfterPay and other BNPL schemes. I know that other financial bloggers like The Broke Generation and Choice magazine talks about this too. I feel that these companies prey on vulnerable people who either don’t have the funds available or financial literacy. BNPL schemes can affect your credit rating and your ability to get approval for a home loan. Since the Banking Royal Commission, banks are getting stricter with their lending practices and must lend responsibly. This has only been tightened due to rising interest rates and the cost of living.

AfterPay makes their money by charging businesses a $0.30 fixed transaction fee plus a commission between 3% and 7% on each sale. I feel like this is an unfair slog to businesses, many of whom are doing it tough right now. They often feel pressured to offer it or customers will go elsewhere. ZipMoney spreads the cost over 24 months at $27.12 per week.

In saying that, payment plans are an option. Perhaps you are in a tighter financial position but know that things will change. You know you and are able to make the decision that is right for you.

Just make sure you are making the right choice for you and your family and have explored other options first. Maybe if you can’t afford the upfront cost, you can’t afford it right now. You could always revisit it in a year or two when your circumstances change. Otherwise look back at the section for side hustles and how they could help you meet your savings goal for a Thermomix faster.

4. Earn Your Thermomix

One way of acquiring a Thermomix is to earn one. You do this by becoming a consultant. To do this, you need to pay a deposit of $840 and purchase a business kit for $125.

This gives you access to training and ongoing professional development. You can earn incentives, access to exclusive classes and events and discounts for the MixShop online.

Consultants earn commission on Thermomix and MixShop sales. They can earn between $240 and $410 per TM6 they sell, depending on how many they sell per month. I think it would be unlikely for most people to sell a huge number so the lowest number is probably more realistic. More information can be found here.

It’s important to realise that this is no get-rich-quick scheme. Many consultants have grand plans of selling hundreds of machines. Be realistic of what you can actually achieve and sell, and how much money you make. There may be lots of consultants in your area already.

You may sell lots of them. You also may just sell enough (6) to earn a Thermomix of your own and that’s okay. This is where a side hustle or second job can come in. Something with guaranteed hours or room to a passive income. You may prefer to cook and experiment at home with your Thermomix and head out a couple nights a week to do night fill at your local supermarket. You might opt to drive for Uber Eats, do market research or babysit on Saturday nights.

Becoming a consultant might be the right path for you but make sure to read the fine print. Ask lots of questions, look at the website and information packs carefully and even ask a consultant for their honest opinion. It might be a great opportunity but just not the right opportunity for you.

It’s Okay To Take Your Time

I’m not affiliated with Thermomix so I want to make sure you make wise decisions. Take your time and always sleep on it before making any big changes. Like most things, when we spend time weighing up the pros and cons of a purchase, read some reviews and ask friends and family for their honest opinion, we can make the decision to buy with conviction.

My husband4 loves doing research. Over the last few years, he has saved up to buy expensive noise cancelling headphones, AirPods, a shaver and an Apple Watch. He spent months looking at reviews, looking at Choice, YouTube videos, asking friends who owned them and then monitoring prices online. He loves technology so doesn’t mind spending the time to make sure he gets the right product for the right price. He is always happy with his purchases and doesn’t seem to have buyer regret. As a bit more of an impulsive shopper, I am learning to take a leaf out of his slow and steady shopping approach.

Hosting a demo party might help you figure out the right decision for your family. For me, I borrowed my mum’s TM31 Thermomix. At that stage I was considering buying one of the older versions on Marketplace to save money. The lack of technology and having to refer to a book constantly put me off completely. It all just seemed too hard. It seemed far more complicated than I wanted it to be and I barely used it before returning it to her.

I didn’t like the idea that I would still be at least one thousand dollars out of pocket without knowing the full history of the machine and no current warranty. Using an old machine helped me realise that if we were going to buy a Thermomix, it was going to be a new one.

Directory Of Thermomix Consultants

This was originally included in this article. I’ve decided to put it in a separate article so it is easier to find. You can access it here.

Keen to make a purchase? I now have a referral link. I am still not affiliated with Thermomix and anyone can apply for a link (even you!). It simply means that I receive a $50 voucher for the Mix Shop in return for spreading the word. This would be a lovely bonus for our family (but not expected by any means). You can still add the name of a consultant to support them too, without it costing you any extra.

I’ve written some other articles if you wanted to find out more.

How To Afford A Thermomix

How Thermomix Can Help With Food Allergies

Why Thermomix Is Great For Kids

35 Things I No Longer Buy Now That We Have A Thermomix

Unsponsored Thermomix Review

Thermomix Consultant Directory

Have any questions? I’d love to connect with you over on Instagram or Facebook.

Melanie Wegener

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