How IKEA and Sonos Roped Me Into Their Sound System

I didn’t grow up with money. I didn’t even get my driver’s license until I was nearly 18 years old because I had to save up for the classes myself. We didn’t have the “latest and greatest” anything. Our house didn’t have air conditioning. I drove my parents’ cars until I saved up all the money myself to buy one.

My buddy, on the other hand, lived in an expensive suburb of Milwaukee. Visiting his house was like a dream: the in-ground pool, the indoor hot tub, the music room full of expensive instruments that they never played, like his top-of-the-line electric guitar.

Now, my friend was not someone who had a lick of ego. He was definitely spoiled, but his parents raised him with an excellent attitude about life and money.

Regardless, from his huge screen TV to his upstairs game room, he had it all when it came to possessions.

But my brain was only truly jealous of three things: the pool, the indoor hot tub, and the home audio system.

The central “command center” in the kitchen

To me, it was the HEIGHT OF LUXURY.

Installed in one wall of the house, just off the kitchen, was a tape deck, CD player, and intercom system.