[neilv]

> Before I was married I didn't even own a bed. [...] My spouse then urged (forced) me to buy things for myself.

I worked for years while sleeping on the floor (on a bedsheet, over carpet), even once I could arguably afford a bed. It took a girlfriend to convince me that I should finally, urgently buy a bed (well, an unfinished pine futon frame, from a warehouse outlet).

Maybe the current pause in VC-powered-growth startups means founders&engineers with latent frugality skills will really shine? :)