Haven't done this exactly, but one thing I WOULD recommend when the opportunity arises is to buy a SMALLER fridge when the time comes. Wife and I (And 2 meat-eating dogs) did OK on 10 cubic feet (total for fridge and top freezer). Needed a small fridge for a small kitchen. A bit tight at times, but it worked. We found that before that, 12 CF was plenty for us. (An older model we had). We have 18 Cubic feet now (different house, fridge came with it), and I find that's big enough that things get "lost" in it, forgotten about, etc.
My wife's family of 5 used a 12 cubic foot fridge/freezer growing up. No reason people can't today, right?
(I will add the full disclosure that we have a small chest freezer in the basement for the bulk meat we buy. 1/4 cow, 1/2 hog, lamb, etc.)