On a related note, I need to buy a quality dresser because the tightening screws keep popping out of my current Ikea dresser and I’m worried my shoddy assembly job will cause it to collapse any day now (I’ve moved it across the country three times, it’s served its time). But I can’t figure out where people go to buy decent furniture. Room and Board? Crate and Barrel? Those suckers charge $1200+ for a dresser! Is that the going rate now? I can’t afford that!

I think this also speaks to the reality of young people renting and thus not being willing or even able to commit to inheriting or buying nice things. Why fill a short term space with a long term commitment? Plus if I were to inherit something, I’d have to haul it from my mom’s house five states away and frankly I can’t justify that.

I always imagined people bought a house then shopped for furniture to fill it, tying them to these investments for decades to come. Instead, I am regularly signing a new lease and just hope that my current furniture collection is sufficient.