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!!!

[Just5minswithDacre]

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



That's nothing. I've had a whole kitchen and two people in mine.

You do realise it'll be flat packed in a box?

[Just5minswithDacre]

TAKE HER!

She's saved, she's willing to pay.

14 is far to young to be taught (by her own mother) that that kind of diligence will sometimes go unrewarded.

[Just5minswithDacre]

too ^ young..

[DesolateWaist]

I didn't know that anywhere was 50 miles from an IKEA!

Lots of places are 50 miles from an ikea.
I live in a very large town in the South East and my closest one of 60 miles away.

Norwich, is over 100 miles. (although they do have a collection depot there)

Hardly 'up a mountain'.

[user1467976192]

Check on Amazon I got a good deal on my ikea table there

[HollyBollyBooBoo]

I have no understanding of your financial situation but it's sad that she has to spend her own money on a wardrobe. I also think it's incredibly admirable that she's saved enough for it. Most 14 yo are spending money on stuff to put in it aren't they?

[WatchingFromTheWings]

I'm over 50 miles from ikea and paid £35 for delivery of a Pax wardrobe for my daughter. I'd never expect my kids to pay for or towards essentials like a wardrobe, especially as she needs one.

Make a day out of it...lunch there is reasonable.

[Enoughisenough9]

I think we've got the wrong daughter's OP. The daughter I dreamed of was like yours. Mine wouldn't dream of getting a job, and in the unlikely event she did she certainly wouldn't be buying a wardrobe with her wages.

[Misssss]

What Holly said. It's sad that she's had to save up for her own wardrobe and even more sad that instead of driving her there immediately you're moaning on MN about it.

[clarehhh]

IKEA quality much improved, husband helped daughter assemble a wardrobe yesterday and was much impressed with quality compared with when we were her age, 22.I would go as not that far!

[HandbagCrab]

I love buying furniture and tat from Ikea! Got a steak dinner for £3.50 last week from there too.

[WatchingFromTheWings]

IKEA quality much improved

Agree with that. My daughters wardrobe is huge with sliding drawers. It's been taken down, moved house and rebuilt twice....still standing strong!

[Oldraver]

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

I would so buy this. I remember as newlyweds buying a double bed from MFI and trying to fit it in a Chrysler Alpine. We had to go and buy some roof bars to fit part of it on the roof

[GreenGoth89]

If you live in or near Birmingham they are opening a new order and collection point in the city centre if that is of help?

[LunaLoveg00d]

Poor kid.

I cannot imagine ever telling my 14 year old that she had to save up for a wardrobe. Luxuries yes, basic necessities no. And then after she has saved up, refusing to take her to get something which couldn't even vaguely be described as a christmas or birthday present anyway!

I am not a fan of Ikea at all, it's like fast fashion for furniture. Far better for the planet (and cheaper) to go to your local auction house or second hand store and invest in a solid piece of furniture which was built to last and can always be painted or re-varnished. Large furniture isn't exactly trendy at the moment and can be picked up so cheaply, £10 on a pot of paint and hte same on some new handles and it can look amazing.

[DesolateWaist]

Its pure comedy watching people trying to get things in a car at the warehouse.

Even better was about 15 years ago when we had a Smart Car. They were very uncommon at the time. So much so that if you saw another one you would wave to each other.

I remember going to Ikea and buying a load of stuff. We knew it was going to fit as we had pre measured the boxes.
When I brought the car round to to pick up bit we had a crowd watch us pack it all in. There was a round of applause when we finished.

[shovetheholly]

Check carefully that it will fit in the car. Some of those wardrobes are really big. You can get the flatpack dimensions on the website for most things, or ask someone at the store before you go.

I once watched a couple have a meltdown argument in Ikea because they were trying to get a double mattress into a Ford Fiesta. Madness!

[obviouslymarvellous]

Yes I think yabu. She has saved this quite a bit herself which is lovely and you don't want to drive??? Either pay delivery or take her

[Lweji]

Poor kid.

I don't let DS spend his own money on the electronics he wants.
And he had to pay half of a PS4 for Christmas, from previous cash presents.

I don't see a problem with making a 14 year old save up for a wardrobe she doesn't actually need, just wants a new one. Even if the OP can afford it.

DS also had to wait for his new bed until I was pretty sure he wanted the specific one he had chosen initially.

[AndNowItsSeven]

50 miles is not far, very odd that you are making her pay for half a wardrobe though.

[TellMeSomethingNew]

Poor kid. Take her and be nice about it. I fucking love adore going to IKEA

[FeckinCrutches]

There is no way it's £200 to deliver a wardrobe!!

[MooseBeTimeForSnow]

Lots of families here drive to our closest IKEA or Costco just because they can. Some even make specific trips.

It's 275 miles away ...

[SoupDragon]

You do realise it'll be flat packed in a box?

Yes, but a wardrobe will have full height pieces taking up a lot of room.