I am really loving baking! I think about it all the time, but I keep telling myself it's just something to do on the side. Anyways, I having making like at least a cake a week and I wanted to know if it was time to buy a stand mixer. i see them on all the videos and I know that it will save me a ton of time, but I really can not afford the one I want right now (Kitchen Aid). Are there any other good ones out there that are cheaper than kitchen aid? Please let me know? I noticed that the other ones do not have the nice attachments, but does this make a difference. Sorry for all of the questions, but the more I learn, the more I want to know and want. lol Thanks CC.

I LOVE my KA mixer!!! Personally I wouldn't use anything else. Well, I do have my eye on an industrial sized one, but that's not happening for quite a while. Anyways, I have seen alot of posts recently about Kohl's having great sales on their appliances and some even got more of a % off with coupons they have gotten in the mail. Now, I believe this is for people who have a Kohl's card, but it's something to keep in mind. I've also seen some say they've found good prices on KA's on amazon.com. I'd just start watching Kohl's ads and look online. But IMO, KA is the way to go. Hope this helps and good luck!

If you can't afford a KA stand mixer I would look into the KA hand mixers. I have the 9 speed that comes with a wisk and dough hooks. It handles buttercream and royal icing with no problem.

And the biggest time saver you'll get, is not just that they work faster and harder than a hand held, but that you can WALK AWAY FROM THEM and do other things while they keep going!

When I started I really wanted a kitchen aid, but couldnt afford it. I bought a cheaper one (Sunbeam maybe?). The bowl spun and then beater stayed in one place. It was awful! It barley mixed regular cake box batter. I started to make buttercream icing with it but it was impossible. I cant image trying to make cookies with it. I sucked it up and got a kitchen aid. I cant imagine baking without it now. I got mine at Kohls around Christmas. I opened a credit card for the discount and I got a really good price. You can pay off your credit card balance when you check out too, so you dont have to worry about extra charges.

I started out with KA hand mixer which I still have and use all the time. It was great to get started, but I finally broke down and purchased a KA stand mixer and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. You can do so much more as far as capacity and I make my own MMF which turns out great in the stand mixer. I bought mine at Kohl's. Found a 15% off coupon on-line (Google it). I went when they were having a sale and also Kohl's cash ($10 for every $50 you spend). It has been well worth the cost, but I also understand it is expensive.

I love my KA mixer! But my parents bought it for me for Christmas a few years ago...otherwise I know what you mean about cost. I did get one from Walmart before I got my KA mixer and it was okay. It was Sunbeam brand it was about $50. It served the purpose but it's nothing compared to my KA mixer. It rocks!!!!

Don't get the Sunbeam stand mixer. I have one and can't stand it. Save-up for the KA, at least that's what I'm doing.

Try craigslist or ebay. I searched for Kitchen Aide on Craigslist and got a Professional 6 for $165. She had a 5 qt too that was cheaper, but I got the 6. You can probably find a 5 quart for under $100. And I think they last forever.

My DH bought me my 5qt KA mixer for Christmas last year..and I love it!!! I really use it mostly for my buttercream and it is so wonderful. Save for one they are worth it

I have a Sunbeam Mixmaster and it works perfectly fine for me and I do the equivelent to about 1 a week. Whether it's for a friend, family gathering, or trying something new. I really don't know how old it is though. Someone gave it to my mom and she gave it to me. Maybe about 15-20 years old. It did come with two beaters. One squared and one rounded. Instead of using one at a time I put them both in and it works 100times better than if I were to use just the one kind. My friend who also has an old one showed me that. I can't afford a KA either and if I had to I'd get another Sunbeam.

Not sure if you can wait but the day after Thanksgiving walmart, Target, etc usually have them for a really good price.

I have a Kenwood and am perfectly happy with it. It is strong, has a large bowl capacity and works like a dream.

I only do this as a hobby, so the KA was way out of my price range. I just used a cheap handheld from the dollar store for awhile which served it's purpose. As I started making bigger cakes I bought the Cooks stand mixer from JCPenney on sale and with coupons and it was real cheap. It works wonderfully for the amount of cakes I make. I haven't had a problem so far.

I couldn't imagine doing what I do with a hand mixer. While I'm just trying to start up my business, it seems that every cake I get now is large. Strange, but true. I must get the crazies.

Anyway, I would HIGHLY recommend a stand mixer. It's a HUGE time saver. I cream butter and whip up egg whites MUCH faster than you can with a hand mixer.

We started with just a hand mixer, but quickly knew we really wanted the KA. Of course we couldn't afford it either, so we got a new Sunbeam Heritage Series on ebay because we got it at a GREAT price. A year later friends gave us a KA as a gift because we did their wedding cake for them for nothing. It was our gift to them, but they still wanted to give us the KA. My husband likes the KA, but I love the Sunbeam more. Maybe after we get the bowl scraper blade I'll like the KA better, but for now, I'm thrilled with my Sunbeam.

I would die without my KA mixer!! In fact, I have 2, 5 qt mixers. A few yrs ago Lowe's had them on sale for $150. I bought 3! I kept one as an extra and sold the other 2 on ebay for a profit. I also have an extra bowl, which helps if you want to make bc ahead of time and still have another bowl for mixing.
When I make bc, I let it mix for a good 5mins, and I can walk away from the mixer.
BTW, I only make about 1 cake per wk, but still couldn't imagine using a hand mixer.

I wished I would have caught that sale at Lowes. lol PM if you see that sale again. I was bidding on one on Ebay, but it went up to 190 so I rather get it from the store. The start out cheap on ebay, but go up to almost regular price. I guess I can get a cheap on for now and then upgrade later when I can afford it. I just don't want to pay 50 for a crappy one when I can go ahead and get a good one for 200. I told my husband that I wanted one, but he didn't get the hint and our anniversary just passed.

We find that when we want something like this on ebay, and we have time to be patient, we just keep going on, daily sometimes, but at least every couple of days. Find the ones we would like and just keep sniping them until we finally get one. We've gotten all kinds of things that way. When the new Tickle me Elmo came out a couple years ago we got 2 that way. We got a router that way and even the router bit set. The sets were going all day long for $50 and $60, but we just kept at it until one slipped through and we got it for $12. We got our Sunbeam that way ($39), a Kodak camera, printers. All kinds of stuff. The more time you have that you can wait to get it at just your price, the better your chances. And if you snipe it, you don't have to worry about bidding emotionally, and if you win one, you cancel the rest of your snipes.

I couldn't make a good cake without my KA..LOL! I have 3 in 3 different sizes, from a pro 6 down. I bought all of them used and they work great. I actually got one its a tilt head at a garage sale for 35.00. It works perfect. I use it mostly to make royal. I did buy my mom a new one day after thanksgiving at Sears for 150.00. It was regular 379.00. Sales are out there just got to watch for them. Look on Craigslist.

I called last week @ one of the outlet malls in La. We have a store Kitchen Collections in the outlet mall. You can get a nice refurbished KA Artisian for $200.00. They also have a on line store but I have not checked it out yet. Last year a friend bought a refurbished KA and the sales person told me she been working there 1 year since it opened, after Hurricane
Rita and the only KA Mixer returned was a brand new one. Good luck with your shopping.

Thanks, but I know I can get a new one from Target for $200 so I would not buy it refurbished. I noticed that jcpenny had one that looks like KA and has the paddle, hook, and whisk, but I didn't like the reviews. May have to break down and get a KA. I know that I am going to keep looking for one until I find it.

You can also try HSN.com or QVC.com. They sometimes have monthly payments. That's how my sister and I got ours.

My mom bought my refurbished KitchenAid Artisan from an outlet in Myrtle Beach for $150 two Christmases ago. I have never had a single issue with it and there aren't even any scratches or dings in it. If she didn't tell me it was refurbished I never would have known.

Grit your teeth and spend the money. I guarantee you won't regret it.

I just bought a third one at a yard sale for $65! Yippee!!

Yes.

So, I need to check out yard sales.

I just don't think that I would buy a refurbished for $200. $65 @ a yard sale, yes. If you're going to spend that much, buy a new one with a warranty for a little more.