Start The Car...Start The Car!

After making SuuUCH a big deal over my frugal find at IKEA in my last post.  I became worried that when I told you what it was you would be all....Really?  That's what I came back for?  

Big Whoop Dee Do Da?  

Yes it's true. I imagine you all that way, wearing bib overalls chewing on some wheat stalk.  

It's The Agronomist's influence in my life over the past 17 years, I can't help it.  So please don't take offense.

So, for you to truly understand,  I decided you needed the background story in order to truly appreciate how amazing this find was for me and Bungalow'56.  It is going to change my life.

I am beginning my story now....

A few years back we decided we needed a new dining room table.  

It was time to say goodbye to my parents original 30 year old dining room set.  In an attempt to spiff it up my aunt and I had painted it all dark chocolate.   But the chairs were falling apart and the paint was chipping.  Plus it wasn't big enough for us to invite another family over that was larger than 4.

It was decided. I was going to the Big City to pick out a beautifully oiled Harvest Table.  I knew exactly what it would look like.  A Pottery Barnesque beauty was what I was after.

But once I got there, my frugal nature kicked into high gear, I just couldn't hand over several thousand dollars for a table that my children were going to spill on, craft on, and hot glue on.  Plus none of the Harvest Tables could be made larger.

As I was pondering the cost we decided to go to IKEA to pick up a few things.

Well? That was the end of that. The table above was the one we came home with instead.  It was solid wood, it vould seat 12 comfortably, and it cost about the same amount a chair did in some of the higher end Harvest Table stores.  I felt good about our decision.  I wouldn't have to worry about every little scratch and permanent felt marker accident I knew was in our future.  

I came across our table several times during my four hour stroll through IKEA.  I like it in white.  A color that was not available a few years back.  In fact I always imagined painting it.  And It just so happens these are the chairs we purchased also.  They were sixty dollars a piece.

Here it is in our home.  Do you notice something is missing?  Chairs perhaps?  At least enough of them to seat a family?  You're right.  We decided to buy the....

BENCHES instead.  

But as the years have passed I've begun to dislike them.  I cannot use the word HATE here, as we discourage the use of that word in our home.  But I really, Really, REALLY don't like them.  It has become so bad, that I no longer invite visitors for supper.  Don't get me wrong, the kids love them, but for adults they are the biggest pain in the butt.   Especially if you are over, say? 5 feet?  We try our best. We pull out our old yucky office chairs and the piano bench along with some little stools for the adults.  

Can you spell embarrassment?  I really, really wanted chairs, but I couldn't justify the purchase so soon after buying the benches.

that is.... until I spotted these in the AS IS section.

These chairs were used in the cafeteria and have since been replaced with a newer design. 

There were six left.  And yes they are well worn, and there is some petrified ketchup I will have to clean off, but that doesn't bother me,  it's nothing a little elbow grease can't fix.

I like their shape and they are surprisingly comfortable and sturdy. 

The wood can easily be removed from the frames, and I plan on painting them some really fun colors.

Because... are you ready? 

For $5 dollars a piece it is sooo worth it.

PS If you are math impaired?

That means I just got a whole new 6 piece dining chair set for  $31.80

and yes it's true, I couldn't help myself. 

I yelled for The Agronomist to... "Start The CAR!... Start The CAR!"

    xo

I'm joining up to Frugal Fridays with LifeAsMom where you can find many ideas for saving money, as well as The Finer Things In Life