Fridge died? Funding essential appliances

Skypay Connect · Updated August 2026 · All guides

Some appliances are optional. A fridge in an Australian summer is not. When an essential appliance dies, the funding options differ enormously in cost - and the worst one is dressed up as the easiest.

Check NILs first - genuinely

The No Interest Loans Scheme (NILs) exists precisely for essential appliances: up to a few thousand dollars, zero interest, zero fees, repaid over 12-24 months. Eligibility is income-tested (healthcare card or income thresholds). If you qualify, nothing commercial competes. Search "No Interest Loans" plus your state.

Avoid the rent-to-buy trap

Consumer-lease "$15 a week" deals routinely total three to five times the appliance's retail price over the contract. They survive on urgency. Almost any alternative - including a capped small loan - costs less.

If a small loan is the answer

Buy the appliance outright (sales and floor stock beat RRP), borrow only the purchase price, and keep the term short. A $900 fridge on a four-month loan is a contained cost; the same fridge on a two-year lease is a $3,000 mistake.

How matching works

You complete one application with Skypay Connect - your details, income and what you're looking to borrow. Your application is then considered against a panel of lenders' criteria at once, instead of you applying to each one separately. If a lender wants your application, you're introduced directly and finish the final steps with them; the lender makes the credit decision and funds the loan.

Being straight with you

Matching is not approval. Every lender assesses your application under responsible lending rules and can decline it. What matching changes is the odds and the effort: one application, multiple chances, and no drip-feed of hard knocks on your file from applying everywhere separately.

Does applying affect my credit score?

Submitting a matching application with Skypay Connect isn't a hard enquiry from us - though the lender who takes your application may run their own checks as part of their assessment, and their enquiry can appear on your file. That's still one lender's check instead of several from applying around town.

WARNING - Do you really need a loan today? It can be expensive to borrow small amounts of money and borrowing may not solve your money problems. Check your options before you borrow: for information about other options for managing bills and debts, ring 1800 007 007 from anywhere in Australia to talk to a free and independent financial counsellor; talk to your electricity, gas, phone or water provider to see if you can work out a payment plan; if you are on government benefits, ask if you can receive an advance from Centrelink. The Government's MoneySmart website shows how small amount loans work and suggests other options that may help you.

Ready to see your options for this? One application, multiple lenders.

Start your application - about 90 seconds