my daughter wants a new wardrobe...50 mile ikea drive???!!

[user1471353057]

my daughter (14) has been trying to persuade me for months and months for me to buy her a brand new wardrobe as hers is "too small" "doesn't go with her room" or whatever and I completely understand why she'd want one. at first, I was reluctant but offered £45 towards a second hand one if she could find anything half decent,but she now wants a brand new one from ikea that is over £100. she has saved up the other money for it herself (she has a job) and i don't know if i'm being mean or not when i told her that I won't drive fifty plus miles all the way to ikea for a brand new wardrobe in the middle of the year. it isn't her birthday, it isn't christmas, it's a big long excursion for one very expensive item she just happens to want. am i being unreasonable??? pls help!!!

[LemonBreeland]

Agree with other posters. She is 14 and has saved up money for something as boring as a wardrobe. TBH I think you should be proud of her. A wardrobe is not a birthday or Christmas present. That is shit!!

[INeedSomeHelp]

Jessbow the only Ikea branches in Scotland are in Edinburgh or Glasgow so there are a lot of places a lot further than 50 miles away!

[Floggingmolly]

What special occasion would have to occur to buy her a new bed if she needed one, op?! I can't get over "it isn't any special occasion"

[Oldraver]

I think she has done very well saving for her own wardrobe.

Is her wardrobe 'too small' ? We've just altered DS's wardrobe...it had two rails and a shelf which fit his toddler sized clothes but now he's bigger we had to take out the shelf and move a rail up. She may have a very valid pint about it being too small

[stopfuckingshoutingatme]

go, it will be a nive bonding trip, Ikea is great and he has done well to save up.

amazon often sell marked up Ikeas items and deliver for cheaper too. what's this baby called (love the Ikea names)

[Stillunexpected]

Oh dear, you do sound like a misery guts about this. I think your DD has been really good about saving up to buy her own furniture, rather than wanting the latest trainers or make-up. I like to think I'm pretty sensible with my kids but even I would draw the line at expecting a 14 year old to be expecting/excited about getting a wardrobe for Christmas! If you "completely understand" why she would want one, then she obviously has a point about it being too small or whatever so surely you should consider this a normal household expense rather than some kind of treat item which she should be grateful for.

[michy27]

My mum's about 100 miles from the nearest Ikea. There's one in Norwich which is an order point but not an actually shop with the displays.

[ProcrastinatorGeneral]

Chances are you'd go for yourself if it was something that met your miserably pathetic criteria. Your daughter has saved a massive wodge of money for a 14 year old to get what she wants. You'd be a total arse to insist she goes with something second hand and unsuitable just because you don't like it.

[RedToothBrush]

DON'T GO.

Not because its far, but because you have to fit two people plus a wardrobe in the car.

Its pure comedy watching people trying to get things in a car at the warehouse. I'm sure IKEA cctv would be worth making a dvd of.

Get it delivered.

[AgathaF]

If her current wardrobe is too small for her stuff, and you can afford it, then I think a wardrobe is an essential item and should be paid for by you, including collection or cost of delivery, and assembly (with a good grace!). It's not plodding out £70 for a haircut or extra shoes etc. It's required furniture for a kids bedroom.

I can understand your reluctance if money is that tight, although your posts don't read as though that is the issue.

[gillybeanz]

Oh bless her, she is buying her own furniture and earning at 14. She sounds amazing.
I think you should take her and make a day of it, maybe go for lunch too.

It's ok for those saying that furniture isn't a gift for a special occasion, it is unless you are very rich.
Not everyone can afford to buy furniture because their child wants something new. It sounds like the 14 year old can see this, hence saving up, yet many adult Mnetters can't.

[bloomburger]

Seriously?

A wardrobe isn't a luxury item, it's a necessity! It's not a computer game or a £200 pair of trainers she's asking for its bloody furniture.

I'd ay for it all and do the drive, have a nice day out and let your DD keep the money she's saved.

[Stillunexpected]

I agree bloomburger but at no point has the OP said that she can't afford the wardrobe. Instead, she has indicated that her DD probably does need a new wardrobe but she doesn't want to go to Ikea to get it, then moaned about the delivery cost and complained that she shouldn't be expected to buy a wardrobe because it isn't Christmas or a birthday! Her DD sounds lovely and the kind of teenager who would understand if her mum said that they genuinely couldn't afford to buy it but she has said anything but that.

[BlueFolly]

I think you're being mean

[gillybeanz]

bloom

I don't know how long it would take us to save up for new wardrobes, they aren't a necessity btw, you can make do with some much cheaper rails like we used to do when money was tight.
Some people have really got needs and wants mixed up. It doesn't surprise me in this day and age.

[Bambooshoots14]

Check if it'll fit in your car first but yes I'd drive there. 50 miles isn't very far

Otherwise get it delivered

[MapleandPear]

Is she going to assemble it herself as well? That's the hard bit, not the collection.

[MapleandPear]

You'll easily get the flat pack even in a small car with the back seats down.

[diddl]

"You'll easily get the flat pack even in a small car with the back seats down."

It might depend on the wardrobe!

[AppleJac]

Bloody hell! You are being mean op. At 14 she shouldnt have to put money towards anything thats a basic essential as its the parents job to provide it.

A wardrobe is a basic essential. I wouldnt think twice about travelling 50 mile to an IKEA

[RunnyRattata]

I really hope there's a massive backstory or that this is a joke.
50 miles is nothing and if you can't afford the petrol or the time, you should have said so in the first post.
She sounds great. You ....not so much.

[BlueFolly]

Only go if you're going to do it with good grace. If you're going to moan about the journey, the petrol, finding your way round the shop, the meatballs, the queue, getting it into the car, the journey home and assembling it, then you'll probably spoil it for her and she'd be better off saving her money.

[EnquiringMingeWantsToKnow]

Unless the fifty miles is ten junctions round the M25 I'd do it. But then I'm biassed because I love IKEA and can only persuade DH to drive me there once every ten years.

[ThisIsStartingToBoreMe]

How did all your other furniture get to the house????

[Lweji]

Is it really that small? Or doesn't go with her room?

How do you completely understand why she wants one, but you seem dismissive of her reasons?

Has she looked at other local shops?

I don't think I'd want to drive about one hour each way just for a cheap wardrobe.

Personally, I'd save the trip for a bigger purchase and pay for the delivery, given the distance.

However, furniture is furniture, and I wouldn't consider it a present. I've just bought DS a new bed and shelves in the middle of the year too.