To want to go to Ikea, even though it's dangerous...

[JackBauer]

All I want is a few metres of their fabrics.
That's all.
No funky kitchen gadgets
No cool toys.
No 'little things I never knew I wanted'

The style of fabric I want can only be from Ikea, I very rarely go past on my own (DH less that is) and DD's and I are going to be coming home past Cardiff on Monday. We could stop for lunch which would mean I wouldn't have to rush home to cook.

But how do I stop myself buying everything I see browsing.

it's a problem.

They ran a sale on the opening day or something and the place was chaos - verging on rioting and people were just abandoning their cars on the duel carriageway nearby and running in because they didn't want to wait in the queue to park!

I know it was probably scary for staff but that's really funny!
Like that riot in primark! Honestly, how fucked upa re some peoples priorities!

what you need to do is move to a house which is 10 mins from Ikea.

After popping to Ikea a hundred times in the first month to get things for the new house, you will be so bloody sick of the place that you will never, ever want to set foot in it again.

Worked for me

I'm ashamed to say, I have almost defeated the urge to pick up and keep stuff. We went in with a list last time, and stuck to it more or less. I have a fixation on kitchen equipment. DH and I call it "kitchen porn".

DON'T GO IN THERE!

Oh lord, last time I went in there I spent a small fortune! I tried looking away, really I did, but there was even more stuff to look at in the other directions!

Money was spent.

I needed none of it.

It was fantastic

tinseltot, i finally got my Ikea kitchen a couple of months ago. I love it.

You do not need any salty liquorice fish or pink colanders, or foldaway chairs or bundles of 3 scissors (God - how MANY of those have you bought over the years). Just be firm.

(but the pear cider is particularly good)

We're about 15 minutes from nearest Ikea. Which is right in the city centre. And they give you 3 hours free parking if you spend £10. And they'll even take ds1 in their free creche for an hour and a half so I can actually get some shopping done. And feed him afterwards with a 45p hot dog. No wonder my house is full of Ikea stuff.

Funny thing is that dh works for a Swedish company - and we often bump into the Swedish sttaff who are over here on assignment eating out in Ikea.

don't do it, am £285 lighter from yesterday and I only went in for one fecking thing

be strong, send in DH on his own with very specific instructions and you should be safe?

Just accept that you're going to spend more than you planned. You know it's going to happen. Accept your addiction and you'll be miles happier. I know I am

The other day we went to Ikea. We spent fifteen minutes in there. We bought one thing. It was £2 from Bargain Corner. We are living the dream

No use to OP, just had to share. I didn't know this was even possible!

DH is not allowed anywhere near IKEA without me! He is far worse for the big stuff than I am.

anglepoise nobody likes a self restrained show off

If self-restraint is the problem ...

Me: 'Look at this nice storage box, which will be enormously useful'

Dh: 'What are you going to put in it? You're going to put more stuff in smaller boxes in it, aren't you? & then you'll buy a bigger box to put this box in! You'll only be happy when your whole life is in ONE BIG FUCKING BOX & you can crawl inside it!'

& that's before we even get to the Enormous Cat Bowl section.

IKEA is evil.

oh yes, bundles of scissors

Well, you see, our sock monster, whilst he likes teaspoons for pudding most days, is partial to a pair of scissors every week now and again, so we do actually need scissors most times I got to Ikea .

JackB - Ikea dressmaking scissors are actually really good (as long as you can hide them from your DH - my last pair got used for some DIY job or other [shudder])

I'm dreading the Southampton one opening, I drive past it everyday on my way to work and am going to have to find a new route.
DH is also dreading me being so close (about 10 mins away as it was bad enough when we were about 45 mins away from one!!

I'm dreading the Southampton one opening too. I love the idea of having one down south and not having to drive 50 miles to the Bristol one but anyone with half a brain can see it's going to be chaos (sp?) Going to WestQue will just be a no no.

I think they should have pulled down crummy Castle point and stuck Ikea there instead. Only build it properly this time.

The local Echo has an article showing that the council have now admitted that there is going to be chaos on the roads around there.
they should have widened the road too as 2 lanes are not going to be enough with queues of traffic trying to get in there, Saturdays in town are bad enough but mix the new Ikea with a football day it will be hell

Thanks for all your helpful advice

I sympathise with all of you that live near Southampton, I was the same when the Cardiff store opened, it's like a scab, you know it's there, you can see it, it calls you, tempts you

'HellllooooooooJack, come and see our reasonably priced office accesories, marvel at the weird shaped kitchen gadgets......buy......you know you want toooooooooooooooooooo'

Oh lyrasilvertongue! I am consumed by jealousy...you have no idea!

I like to hang out in the show kitchens in ikea and pretend that they are mine!! I love the ones in cream wood. i am so looking forward to visiting them on monday! I am sad i know!

I keep trying desperately to persuade dp that we NEED one but being a lot more sensible and restrined than me he prefers to keep the spare money in the bank. He agrees we could do with a new one but problem is that ideally we need building work too to get kitchen to the desired shape before refitting. Kitchen and building would cost more than he wants to spend. Deep down i know he is right to wait........

So is yours lovely? Are you enjoying it?

xx

Jack - You are right to say i am not thinking sensibly to even contemplate monday's trip. But we do need a new wardrobe and a toddler bed before new baby arrives so feel that there is some justification if things unexpectedly and hormonally escalate a little in the infant department! Dp will be there so am quite sure he will do his very best to keep the situation in check.

I expect tho that when he sees cute little DD#2 (18 months) trying out the toddler beds he is likely to soften and agree she can have one! Fingers crossed!

xx

Just remember
it is all crap and will fall apart before you get it home
Anything you buy will be on eastenders next week and you will have to throw it out
You will only get fat gorging yourself on mini dime bars on the way home

the toddler beds are fab. they are acutally quite big at 170cm long . we have two for our 3 and 4yo DSs, who share a room but are obviously too small for bunks. the smaller beds allow us to put them end to end along one wall, which leave much more floor space for play

ooooohh the dime bars! i had forgotten about those. Think they might have peanut in tho? So will sadly have to deny my pregnant body of extra excuse to fatten up.