9 Ikea shopping tips to prevent you from losing your mind

As anyone who has shopped at Ikeacan attest, a trip to one of the company's maze-likefurniture stores can be a soul-sucking, stress-inducing, relationship-ruining slog. But it doesn't have to be.Before embarking on a recent trip to the Ikeain Brooklyn, NY,we spoke to a companyspokesperson about how to avoid burning out while shopping at the store.Once there, we put hertips to the test.Here's a step-by-step guide on how to best turn your Ikea nightmare into a somewhat pleasantdreamor, as they say in Sweden,drm.SEE ALSO:We ate at Ikea's food court ' here's why it's one of the most underrated restaurant chains in the world1. Enter with a game plan.Going in without a game plan is a customer's No. 1 mistakewhen visiting Ikea, according to Ikea US design spokesperson,Janice Simonsen.In fact, youneed to prepare before even leaving your home.Make sure you have measurements on hand and check out Ikea's tools, like the home planner and online shopping list, before you visit.2. Enter with the correct mindset: This is a marathon, not a sprint.Even if you have a strict game plan, Ikea's expansive design and tendency to be overrun with crowds means it is unlikely this will be a quick trip in and out. If you start your daythinking it will be, you're only going to get flustered and upset.3. Make the cafeteria your first stop.Many people don't realize that every Ikea location has a bistro near the checkout, servingitems like pizza and frozen yogurt, anda full-service restaurant, typically upstairs near the showroom.The full-service restaurant is far superior to the bistro, serving up items such as Swedish pancakes, ribs, and Ikea's signature meatballs at very low prices. A Swedish meatball meal, complete with veggies and mashed potatoes, costs $4.99. A cup of coffeewith unlimited refillsis just 75.Stop by the full-service restaurantfor some inexpensive sustenance before going into the belly of the beast.See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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