Author Topic: How to Save Money at Ikea  (Read 7190 times)

ducky19

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Just Joe

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Re: How to Save Money at Ikea
« Reply #1 on: January 23, 2017, 03:39:35 PM »
Wait for a sale... Eat at the store?

So there is MMM style saving money as described by Ducky19 and then there is the average consumer saving money (by spending it first) and complaining when the credit card statement comes...

Jakejake

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Re: How to Save Money at Ikea
« Reply #2 on: January 23, 2017, 03:45:43 PM »
After looking at the article, I see you could join the IKEA Family, which doesn't sound at all creepy. It's their free loyalty program. Then every time you go, you can get free coffee. It doesn't say you have to buy anything.

So I guess if there's an Ikea within biking distance, you could theoretically go out for free coffee there.

katscratch

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Re: How to Save Money at Ikea
« Reply #3 on: January 23, 2017, 04:21:29 PM »
After looking at the article, I see you could join the IKEA Family, which doesn't sound at all creepy. It's their free loyalty program. Then every time you go, you can get free coffee. It doesn't say you have to buy anything.

So I guess if there's an Ikea within biking distance, you could theoretically go out for free coffee there.

Hahahaha I actually used to do that in the depths of winter when my son was little! Free coffee for mama, free play in a spiffy bedroom for kiddo ;)

slugline

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Re: How to Save Money at Ikea
« Reply #4 on: January 24, 2017, 08:10:04 AM »
Ikea itself isn't very un-Mustachian -- many buy-it-for-life (or at least decades) items in my home are from there. But the idea of being a frequent shopper there (and thus needing these tips) is kind of weird. . . .

FIRE me

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Re: How to Save Money at Ikea
« Reply #5 on: January 24, 2017, 05:36:50 PM »
Step 1: Don't step foot into Ikea.  smh...

The Ikea store locator says I'm 116 miles away from the closest Ikea, so that should be pretty easy for me.

Mrs. S

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Re: How to Save Money at Ikea
« Reply #6 on: January 24, 2017, 11:49:49 PM »
While in KL for a business trip I loved going to IKEA. They had a vending machine which dispensed cans for aerated drink at just 1 MYR (1.2 MYR at Tesco) and a soft serve was for around that price as well. Multiple times during those 4 weeks I left the store with 4-5 cans of coke with a ice cream in hand.
They also came through when I had to buy a cheap set of coffee mugs as a gift for someone back home. For reference I was netting 120MYR as per-diem apart from a paid for accommodation.

mwulff

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Re: How to Save Money at Ikea
« Reply #7 on: January 29, 2017, 01:52:32 AM »
Many things in our house come from Ikea. Much of it has lasted over a decade and worked well for that time.

But the true way not to spend any money is to just not go there.

SeaEhm

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Re: How to Save Money at Ikea
« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2017, 10:02:58 AM »
Step 1: Don't step foot into Ikea.  smh...


http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/personalfinance/how-to-save-time-and-money-on-your-next-ikea-trip/ar-AAm0SlZ?ocid=mailsignout

I totally agree!

I feel the same way about grocery stores!

Don't step a foot in the grocery stores when all of the free food is in the back! After a quick wash or blending, my children don't know even know any different.

TheGrimSqueaker

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Re: How to Save Money at Ikea
« Reply #9 on: January 29, 2017, 10:19:19 AM »
In terms of home furnishings, does anyone have ideas about the best places to get value for the money spent?

There tend to be three schools of thought on these boards: the secondhand shoppers/freecyclers, the sale shoppers who buy low-end merchandise for next to nothing, and the sale shoppers who buy higher quality merchandise but expect it to last. By "sale shoppers" I also mean people who deliberately choose discontinued items, nick-and-ding items, floor models, or items with minor factory defects which can be had at a fraction of retail price.

The common themes are to not be in a hurry to buy, to not spend extra by financing the purchase at a rate above zero, to be willing to do a bit of touch-up or repair work if needed, and to be flexible in terms of color and design as opposed to fixated on specific brands or features.

But, does anyone have experience in terms of a specific store where they find it easy to execute their chosen furniture buying strategy?

golden1

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Re: How to Save Money at Ikea
« Reply #10 on: January 30, 2017, 12:41:33 PM »
I like IKEA.  I think many items are very practical, and some are actually decently made.  I am not a furniture snob.  The housewares are incredibly cheap.  The set up of the store is annoying however, and takes forever to go through, so I go only when I have a bunch of stuff I need.  Last time I went, I bought covers for my sofa, an area rug, a coffee table, and an entertainment center.  I also grabbed a few things like some glasses and throw pillows.  It cost less than $300 for the lot. 

ysette9

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Re: How to Save Money at Ikea
« Reply #11 on: January 30, 2017, 01:03:36 PM »
I really like IKEA. I like their style. I like how they really focus on giving you solutions to organize and make the best of small spaces. Their sample living spaces of how they lay out studios and apartments on 400ft^2 or similar sizes are smart and illustrate that you can have a functional home with a small footprint.

Comparing to other furniture stores I find them quite a bit cheaper. I like that they make thei packaging flat so you can put it in the back of your small car or on the roof and not need a big truck. I like that it is cheaper because you do the assembly yourself. I like that they are concerned about the environment in their designs.

I like their meatballs and I love their lingonberry jam. I have definitely had a dinner date on more than one occasion with my husband at the IKEA cafeteria.:)

Dicey

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Re: How to Save Money at Ikea
« Reply #12 on: January 30, 2017, 01:05:02 PM »
Many things in our house come from Ikea. Much of it has lasted over a decade and worked well for that time.

But the true way not to spend any money is to just not go there.
Yeah, I have a couple of things from Ikea. Bought them on CL after I saw them at a consignment store and thought their price was too high. The way they name everything makes it easier to find used at better prices.

DH and I actually went to Ikea last Friday. We've been wed four years and had never been there in our married life. We deliberately went late so as not to have too much browsing time. We headed downstairs at the first opportunity and trailed employees to find the shortest distance to what we were there for. We bought two bookcases for the library, for which we will be fully reimbursed. We bought them there because they match existing Ikea bookcases that are at least ten yours old, so I'll give them that. We went because we're the ones with the truck and bigger bookcases were my damn idea. Bigger bookcases mean more books for sale and more money for the library's collection and programs. That's what Friends of the Library groups do.

We also bought something for ourselves. Two LED lightbulbs for a fixture we've been unable to find lights for to date. At six bucks each, I'm not sure how good a deal that was, but they were the last two incandescent bulbs in our house, so eventual win.

Just staying away from Ikea has not significantly impacted our lives. Hopefully, we won't need to go again for at least four more years. At least. Puh-leeze.

With This Herring

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Re: How to Save Money at Ikea
« Reply #13 on: January 30, 2017, 02:23:19 PM »
In terms of home furnishings, does anyone have ideas about the best places to get value for the money spent?

There tend to be three schools of thought on these boards: the secondhand shoppers/freecyclers, the sale shoppers who buy low-end merchandise for next to nothing, and the sale shoppers who buy higher quality merchandise but expect it to last. By "sale shoppers" I also mean people who deliberately choose discontinued items, nick-and-ding items, floor models, or items with minor factory defects which can be had at a fraction of retail price.

The common themes are to not be in a hurry to buy, to not spend extra by financing the purchase at a rate above zero, to be willing to do a bit of touch-up or repair work if needed, and to be flexible in terms of color and design as opposed to fixated on specific brands or features.

But, does anyone have experience in terms of a specific store where they find it easy to execute their chosen furniture buying strategy?

I am one of the second-hand shoppers.  I don't think I can give a specific store, but there's advice for finding things!

First - Estate and moving sales.  I like the ones where you can go through the house and pick what you like that way.  I find there is a lot more available at estate and moving sales than garage sales.
Second - Small, independent second-hand stores that don't advertise and you just notice as you drive by.  There was one in my area that was run by two elderly gentlemen who opened it for business whenever they wanted to hang out together.  They had some very nice furniture at very cheap prices.
Third - CraigsList.  There is a lot of junk on it, but usually you can find a few versions of what you want at good prices if you wait a while.  I filter for posts that have photos, as it is too easy to waste time on items where the seller left something important out of the description. 

I did join the Freecycle in our current area, but it doesn't seem to be very active.

Dicey

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Re: How to Save Money at Ikea
« Reply #14 on: January 30, 2017, 11:13:16 PM »
Many things in our house come from Ikea. Much of it has lasted over a decade and worked well for that time.

But the true way not to spend any money is to just not go there.
Yeah, I have a couple of things from Ikea. Bought them on CL after I saw them at a consignment store and thought their price was too high. The way they name everything makes it easier to find used at better prices.

DH and I actually went to Ikea last Friday. We've been wed four years and had never been there in our married life. We deliberately went late so as not to have too much browsing time. We headed downstairs at the first opportunity and trailed employees to find the shortest distance to what we were there for. We bought two bookcases for the library, for which we will be fully reimbursed. We bought them there because they match existing Ikea bookcases that are at least ten yours old, so I'll give them that. We went because we're the ones with the truck and bigger bookcases were my damn idea. Bigger bookcases mean more books for sale and more money for the library's collection and programs. That's what Friends of the Library groups do.

We also bought something for ourselves. Two LED lightbulbs for a fixture we've been unable to find lights for to date. At six bucks each, I'm not sure how good a deal that was, but they were the last two incandescent bulbs in our house, so eventual win.

Just staying away from Ikea has not significantly impacted our lives. Hopefully, we won't need to go again for at least four more years. At least. Puh-leeze.

Just Joe

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Re: How to Save Money at Ikea
« Reply #15 on: January 31, 2017, 11:02:20 AM »
I've never been to an IKEA. One of these days...

We did buy an affordable flatpack table and chairs from Sears a few years back. Good price and good quality. Bought it online, took delivery at the store. Free shipping.

Indexer

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Re: How to Save Money at Ikea
« Reply #16 on: January 31, 2017, 03:48:37 PM »
My couch is from Ikea. I didn't buy it there though.

I live close to one. I've never been in it, and I have no interest in going inside.

LalsConstant

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Re: How to Save Money at Ikea
« Reply #17 on: February 01, 2017, 06:03:13 AM »
The way this article is written suggests people go there regularly.  Why would anyone go to a furniture store more than once every few years?  Honestly I have never gone to a furniture store but I don't care about my furniture matching either.

TomTX

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Re: How to Save Money at Ikea
« Reply #18 on: February 04, 2017, 12:21:49 PM »
After looking at the article, I see you could join the IKEA Family, which doesn't sound at all creepy. It's their free loyalty program. Then every time you go, you can get free coffee. It doesn't say you have to buy anything.

So I guess if there's an Ikea within biking distance, you could theoretically go out for free coffee there.

You do not need to buy anything to get the free coffee. You do need to walk to the cafe in the depths of the store, but there are shortcuts.

Originally I would wait in line, get the cup, show my card, have them run the free transaction through the register.

Then I started just grabbing the cup and waving the card at them as I bypassed the line.

Now I just bring my own travel mug and go straight to the coffee. Nobody's ever said anything, and I do have the card in my wallet if anyone ever does.

Dicey

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Re: How to Save Money at Ikea
« Reply #19 on: February 04, 2017, 01:09:56 PM »
The way this article is written suggests people go there regularly.  Why would anyone go to a furniture store more than once every few years?  Honestly I have never gone to a furniture store but I don't care about my furniture matching either.
Which touches on another reason I harbor great distaste for Ikea. The store is just full of crap that nobody needs. Furniture is the least of it. Now, one can make an argument that some of what they sell is essential, but so much of it is geared toward the use-and-dispose mentality, which is just painful to experience. There is never a sense of "enough" in an Ikea store. That's probably true everywhere, but it's rampantly apparent there.

Just Joe

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Re: How to Save Money at Ikea
« Reply #20 on: February 06, 2017, 08:35:53 AM »
Shopping as entertainment? Have never been to an Ikea but want see what all the fuss is about next time we visit a city that has one.

As I get older I see shopping as one of those things that has to be done occasionally. I generally avoid it though.

Miss Unleaded

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Re: How to Save Money at Ikea
« Reply #21 on: February 06, 2017, 01:55:02 PM »
I like Ikea. Our bed is from Ikea, bought early 2007 and still comfortable (although I think we'll need to change the mattresses soon as the frequency of flipping is increasing).  The frame is fine. I have some Ikea sheets and rugs too.    They're not the best quality but have lasted for years under some really rough treatment.

My husband is Swedish so it's really convenient when we visit my family in Australia. They stock stuff that you can't readily get in Coles or Woolies: Julmust, lingon jam, glögg, Swedish meatballs, ... one Christmas we even found a discount julbock to put next to the Aussie Christmas tree. It was pretty fun until my nephew tried to ride it.

ETA: but yeah, I wouldn't call shopping at Ikea a good way to save money.