Poverty Self-Pity

When we moved here, we had nothing. We had sold all of our furniture on Craig's List to pay for the gas for the move. In our last apartment, we had moved very slightly up the furniture food chain. From the college crap, to the post-college hand me downs from the parents who are dying to redecorate.

Initially upon moving, I had hoped to buy new furniture. We had saved-up a small chunk of cash just for that purpose. However, a little something called "The Recession" mixed with utter apathy and laziness caused us to be unemployed for longer than intended. Goodbye little nest egg, I barely had a chance to meet you. Hence, we furnished our apartment via Craig's List and the Thrift Stores.

Honestly, I'm pretty proud. For under $600, I have a completely furnished apt. The best part: since it was all ridiculously cheap, I am not paranoid about any of it getting messed-up. Which is beyond convenient, since the odds of me spilling are better than the odds of today's episode of maury povich being about paternity tests. (ooo, snap!)

At this point, while my friends are being "young professionals" and starting to invest in their first sets of actual furniture, I am at a stage where IKEA would be a massive upgrade.

I often like to play a game called "dream house." Where I go to stores, and mentally pick-out what items I would get for my house if money weren't an issue. (yes, I made it up. no, it's not a real game. and nobody wins....especially whoever is stuck hearing me whine about the stuff)

Off the top of my head, I know exactly what kind of washer dryer i want for my future laundry room: front loading kenmore with a steam cleaning option (not like you asked, but I am telling you anyway)

I spend hours online, torturing myself. looking at pretty furniture, knowing there's no way in hell i could have any of the items.
This is how sad my fantasizing is: I catch myself looking for the frugal options!! It's pitiful that even in my dream world, I can't even bring myself to pay full price!

examples:

$1,200 Pottery Barn Sofa

$400 Ikea Option

$1,800 Pottery Barn Bed

$800 Overstock Option

If I could, I would live in a Pottery Barn catalog. I get so excited when it comes in the mail, I rush upstairs, lock the door and savor every page. It's like my porn. But if being frugal and buying knock-offs is what it takes for me to have cute furniture, then I'm game.

Seeing as how our mattress is currently on the floor, anything would be an upgrade.