I've been in a situation where I was in grad school. There isn't much money coming in if any at all, and no loans. That was years ago, even now when I moved and had to throw out the couch I had since grad school: I refused to pay more than $600 for a couch. It's unbelievable that someone would pay 800 for a single couch. I paid $550 for a love seat and a couch. Is it cheap? Yes, have I become a social pariah for doing so? The guests from last weekend's party certainly didn't give a toss.