I do not think the fridge is the issue. It is just another thing over which to fight for control. Maybe he thinks the fridge could last a little longer, or wants to save the money (though your arguments about finances make sense). What I had in mind with my comments is that you need to give him the message that while you love him, you don’t like his behavior. His resistance to the fridge, keeping you distant, trying to re-exert control over you, are all examples of his behavior, but in spite of all this you still love him. He needs to hear this and really feel it, IMO.
So the fridge is just a side issue. Get the fridge, but address his insecurities, let him know why you need the fridge, not to counter his spending on video games, but to make his life better, and make it easier for you to make his life better. Try to appeal to his sense of empathy. Don't let it become a wedge, but the two of you do need to establish better boundaries.
One other thought. After I posted my comments to you yesterday, it occurred to me that maybe he was being nice to you that weekend in order to pull you closer, so he could then push you away. I recall you said something long ago that one of his objectives was to make you pay for you’re a. He cannot extract much vengeance on you if you don’t make yourself vulnerable. So if he can get you to warm up, open up a little, become vulnerable, then he can put on a little more hurt. This is a very cynical view, I know, but if he is a narcissist, or at least has some strong tendencies, this will not be beyond him.
Just beware of it. In the end I do not think it matters since he is still crying out for caring, he is just a little more vindictive about it. To me that only speaks of how much you hurt him (even though he had little ability to endure any pain at all) and how much he has had to build his defenses. Addressing this core hurt and showing him the compassion you would a kid is still your best course, IMO.
That said, if it turns out that you do all this, make yourself available, commit yourself to him, become honest and expose your vulnerabilities, and he still will not break down his barriers, then you have a different problem on your hands. But you do not know if this is so just yet.
