Hey all,
I think the average MMM forum goer / site reader is way ahead of the curve when it comes to managing their finances and restricting their lifestyle inflation.
However, the MMM lifestyle isn't about total deprivation, and even MMM himself for example will tell you that he lives in a beautiful and very large home. He does essentially all the work and improvements on it himself, AND (perhaps most importantly) he can afford it.
Does he need such a large house? No, and he'll be the first to tell you he most certainly doesn't.
But there is nothing wrong with wanting it, and having it.
To me, mustachianism isn't necessarily as much about early retirement as it is about freedom. They tend to go hand in hand but aren't mutually exclusive. This is all my opinion of course. What I like to say is "Save money where you can, so you can spend it where you want." (This is an oversimplification, I max out my 401k, am paying 5x my minimum school loan payments, etc)
So what hobbies / interests / things do you let yourself have that you most certainly don't need?
(You could be mustachian about how you approach them ie: DIY, buying used, etc. or not. As long as it's not interfering with their retirement / FI goals, please don't judge)
I'll start: I'm a video gamer (mostly PC) and an "aspiring" home theater enthusiast. I build my own gaming computers, and the most recent one I built in Nov 2011 was $1750 in parts. If I had told Alienware or CyberpowerPC or whoever else to 'build it for me' it would have easily cost me well over $3k.
I'm typing this post up from this PC, which is connected to a 60'' LCD TV about 6 feet away from me. I'm sitting on my couch. I currently have a small 5.1 surround sound system which I want to upgrade once I stop renting. (For the next 2 years I need to relocate for work twice, part of the Engineering development program I got hired into.)
When I purchase a home I plan on building a proper home theater, complete with 10 foot screen, projector, recliners, and proper sound system.
It's pretty unmustachian, even if I do essentially all the work myself. (Which I plan to learn how to do, I'm good with electronics but absolutely terrible with a saw and a hammer)
Because in all actuality, I REALLY don't need a home theater. Nobody does.
What about you?