On couches (yes, there is a thread for
everything here):
http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/how-much-did-you-pay-for-your-couch-(and-how-long-have-you-had-it)/I have two couches, but I got both of them for free (one from a co-worker whose new wife didn't like his bachelor couch, and one from a parent who was replacing a perfectly good one).
In fact, come to think of it, the only items I've paid for in my four-bedroom house are a queen bedstead (bought at a yard sale for $100), a king headboard (bought at a consignment store when I got married a few years ago), and some particle-board bookshelves that I bought in my college days (20-30 years ago). Everything else I've gotten for free in one way or another.
Do not ever, ever, ever buy new furniture. In some ways it's even worse than buying a new car at a dealership--the car may take a 20% hit when you drive it off the lot, but furniture takes a much, much larger hit--you will never be able to sell it for anything like what you bought it for.
We could afford to re-furnish our house with new furniture, today, in cash, if we wanted to. The key is not wanting to.
One way I like to look at it is through Buddhism's concept of the Four Noble Truths--which, even if you're not Buddhist in particular (I'm not) or religious in general (I am), have a lot of wisdom to share. Basically, it runs like this:
1. Life is suffering.
2. Suffering arises from attachment/craving.
3. Suffering can be ended by putting an end to attachment/craving.
4. The way to end attachment/craving is through the "Eightfold Path": restraining oneself, cultivating discipline, practicing mindfulness.
MMM has talked about stoicism to describe Mustachianism, but I've always thought of it as an expression of the Four Noble Truths:
1. You are a Consumer Sucka, imprisoned to your job.
2. You are a Consumer Sucka because you are attached to the way the world wants you to live.
3. You can stop being a Consumer Sucka and liberate yourself from your job through ending attachment to the way the world wants you to live, and ending your own cravings for consumer crap.
4. The way to end attachment/craving is through the MMM way: restraining oneself, cultivating discipline, practicing mindfulness.
More on the Four Noble Truths:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Noble_TruthsKeep going! We are all cheering you on!
(edited for syntax and grammar)