The problem is when “living comfortably” requires buying stuff. I spent years agonizing over all the stuff I wanted to buy but couldn’t afford. Gradually, I came to find comfort in the not-buying. It really gives me considerable pleasure now to see a friend’s new car (that I would have coveted a few years ago) and think, “I’m sure glad I don’t need to spend X tens of thousands of dollars on a car.”

I’m not sure how to articulate the shift. Part of it, I think, was coming up with a few reasonably frugal indulgences and thinking, “These are the places where I spend money to treat myself.” When I can find something that’s not really much money and yet convince myself that it’s a guilty pleasure, it helps give me the strength to resist spending that doesn’t give as much pleasure.