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Great Finds at IKEA

St. Louis was lucky enough to land an IKEA store in September of 2015. It is a warehouse sized building in downtown St. Louis that offers a range of home furnishing products at an affordable price. IKEA’s line of merchandise combine function, quality, design and value. It helps you envision how your own space can be more functional, organized and cohesive with day to day living. If you get the chance to visit, plan on staying awhile because it is an experience all it’s own. With so many IKEA finds, you will surely walk out with something.

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IKEA

I love to spend an hour or two roaming the expansive show room. I get a ton of amazing hacks going in and out of the tiny apartment sized areas they have staged for you on the top floor of IKEA. Yup, that is how big this place is! (There is even a restaurant with some amazing Swedish Meatballs on the top floor.) I see something new each time I go.

The middle floor houses the market, a small café, a kids area for babysitting while you shop (this in itself is a reason to spend an afternoon here!), a warehouse of products, and the check out.

Since they have opened, I have gotten so many things from IKEA. My bedding, my bath towels, rugs, furniture, dishes, pans, throws, lighting… literally every room in my home is touched by IKEA.

I decided that BLOG wouldn’t be complete without a post on IKEA deals. So without further ado: MY FAVORITE IKEA FINDS

Those Cute Little Plants

The FEJKA plant. There are several styles of this little gem of greenery to choose from. They only cost $5.99 which is amazing for the quality and size. The FEJKA comes in a small, black pot which is complimentary to my style. If you think it needs a little more, you can pop them straight into a tin from IKEA or use one of your own. I have several of these simple IKEA finds at my house and at the lake. You can never get enough of a good thing!

Clocks

The DEKAD clock is another inexpensive find at IKEA. It comes in black or this brushed green color. Even though IKEA products have a more modern and sleek look and feel, this clock blends in perfectly with my farmhouse, antique vibe. (Other décor in this photo are from thrift stores. Check out My Favorite Second Hand Stores in St. Louis here. And Amazing Thrift Store Finds here.)

Little Silver Bucket – Plant Pots

This is another item that I have multiples of at home and the lake. At only $1.99 each, the SOCKER plant pot is the right size for so many things that clutter my house. Having a cute place to store my pens and art supplies to keep them organized is a win-win. These also fits the FEJKA plant pot perfectly.

Chair Cushions

I was blessed with my husband’s, grandmother’s oak table and 3 of her kitchen chairs. They are beautiful and cherished pieces in our home, but not so comfortable. IKEA offers a wide selection of chair cushions in some great colors. For average price of $8.99 each, they were a much appreciated addition to the dining room.

Step Stools

This is my favorite of my IKEA finds. The BEKVAM is only $39.99 and holds a max weight of 220 lbs. Like most IKEA furniture, you have to assemble it yourself. The directions are so easy to understand though, that I have been able to build most of the things by myself. Jaybird helps when it’s a heavier project than I can’t handle. (They also offer to build your furniture for you for a little extra money.) The best thing about this ladder, is that it comes with a mounting bracket to get it up off the floor. Everything has a place and there’s a place for everything!!

Storage

TJENDA $2.99 storage boxes with lids. I have several sizes of these in my home office. These are just the right size for file folders and office supplies. They help me to keep this area clean and organized.

High Chair

ANTILOP High chair with tray. This is a high quality high chair that I use everyday. The best part about it is that I can deep clean it easily with few nooks and crannies for food to get into.

Ice cube Tray

PLASTIS

PLASTIS Ice cube trays are $1.99 each. I use mine for a mold for my KETO fat bombs. Find my Pinterest Board on Keto snacks here. I love how easy it is to pop these sweet treats right out of the mold.

There you have it, My Favorite IKEA Finds. Send me a comment to let me know what great deals you have found from here. If you want to check out these deals or any other goodies from IKEA, but you don’t have one near you, go online at https://www.ikea.com/ and order a free catalog. – Susie Pea

Check out My Great Thrift Store Finds and My Favorite 2nd Hand Stores! Both of these posts have good information for some slappily shopping ideas.

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I come from a big family. My mom was a SAHM. With only one income and a lot of mouths to feed, my parents were penny pinchers. That woman could make a whole chicken last forever! With all of this moderation, it was easy for me to do the same when Jason and I started our own family. One of my tricks was second hand stores.

Learning the Ins & Outs

At first I didnt know how to put my thrifty upbringing to productive use. Geez, I didnt know how to navigate the kitchen let alone the grocery stores or department stores! Mom always did that. Sure, I took accounting and bookkeeping classes in high school. (Yes, that was a requirement back then.) I knew how to balance a checkbook and pay bills, but budgeting? I must have been absent that day. So I had to learn real quick how to put my stinginess to work.

Clipping coupons, shopping the sales, and buying the no name brands became my new norm. I didn’t stand with the refrigerator door open as long (that was a dad thing). I turned off lights when I left a room. My showers got shorter. Did you know that a dime size amount of shampoo actually can clean your whole head. Along with all of these mindful strategies I learned how to appreciate 2nd hand stuff. Being the 2nd daughter, I already knew that a good pair of jeans or a quality coat would work just fine.

As Jason and I started having kids, we realized quickly that a baby adds lots of stuff to your long list of needs. The worst part is that your little ones grow so quickly that you only need those things for a few months. Which also makes it the best part because the used things were still in pretty good shape if you were lucky enough to find them at a 2nd hand store.

Embrace the Hunt

I learned to navigate the quality and prices of things. I learned how to test if an item was worthy of a 2nd life. Things that could be cleaned up, touched up, or fixed up always made it’s way home with me. Even as our family got bigger along with our income, I still kept my frugal ways. It killed me to spend full price. It gave me pleasure to find good things for pennies even if I needed to use a little bit of elbow grease.

Five of my Favorites Second Hand Stores

With over 30 years of thrifting experience, I feel I am qualified to give you this list of My Favorite 2nd Hand Stores in St. Louis.

Family Thrift Center

Family Thrift Center. This little gem is located at 2500 Lemay Ferry Rd, St Louis, MO 63125. This store features thousands of ever changing used clothing items at discount prices. They stock a variety of household items, toys and books. I have shopped this store since my kiddos were in elementary school. My favorite thing about the Family Thrift Center is how organized and categorized they have it set up. Plus, it doesn’t smell like a basement. Believe me, I have had to walk out of stores because of the musky smell. I can honestly tell you that over half of my wardrobe comes from here. Click here to find out about my ‘Goal Jeans’ that I find at this Thrift Center. And check out my post on Shop the Look to see how I used inspiration boards on Pinterest to help me set up my wardrobe.

Avalon Exchange

Avalon Exchange 6388 Delmar Blvd, Saint Louis, MO 63130 is in the Delmar Loop. My son introduced me to this place just this year. It is a little pricier than what I am used to, but there is a reason for that. It is a gold mine for gently used name brand clothes and shoes. I do not buy shoes from 2nd hand stores personally, but this store I make an exception. You can find a $150.00 pair of Jordan’s for $30.00. Say whaaa?

Refab STL

Refab STL 3130 Gravois Ave, St Louis, MO 63118. I found this place on Craigslist about 2 years ago. It is a huge 40,000 SF warehouse in Benton Park West packed with doors, windows, furniture, sinks, hinges, you name it. They are refurbished from house that are being renovated or torn down. If you are into DIY, this is your place! Worth the drive to spend a few hours here on a Saturday morning.

St. Vincent DePaul

St. Vincent DePaul in Old Town Fenton. 625 Gravois Rd, Fenton, MO. Most thrift stores are pretty much the same, but this particular one has a big inventory of furniture. If you know someone just starting out or heading off to college, I would suggest checking this one out. And they sell recycled mattresses. Not what you are thinking because BELIEVE ME, I asked. The only thing recycled are the springs. You can get a king size memory foam for $500. Crazy!

Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace. I know, this is just an online store. But that is how everyone shops these days and what a savings when it’s all 2nd hand. The Market is so easy to navigate to find exactly what you need. It is easy to sell your gently used items on the site too.

So there you have it, My Favorite 2nd Hand Stores in St. Louis. Throw your hair up in a bun, grab a cup of mojo, push up your sleeves and dig into the hunt. Here is a post on my Amazing Thrift Store Finds. Thrift on my Frugal Frannies!! – Susie Pea