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While I'm not a fan of Sweden's style of government, I have always admired the Swedes (and Scandinavians in general) attitude towards work, wealth, and materialism (the concept of lagom, and all that). It's really very similar to own family's values. My dad is one of the wealthiest people I know, but my parents never played the game of keeping up with the Joneses and purposely avoided any ostentatious displays of wealth. I make a pretty modest salary but have a higher quality of life than a lot of my friends who make more money because I drive a car I can actually afford outright and I bought a smaller house in an older neighborhood. As a result, I have no debt and a lot more disposable income, although the only thing I really indulge in is wine and dining out.

The biggest social faux-pas in Sweden was to have a childminder or cleaner and pay them under the table. In Russia and the US, having IKEA furniture was near the bottom of the list at 98, while Swedes put this at 73.

IKEA stuff is good for young adults, but once I was in my late twenties, I felt my IKEA decor wasn't sending out the message that a mature adult lived in my place.

“..I drive a car I can actually afford outright..”

- Very rare these days.

“As a result, I have no debt and a lot more disposable income, although the only thing I really indulge in is wine and dining out.”

- Sounds like a very pleasant existence to me. I’d say you have an approach to life a lot of people would benefit from, but few implement. You seem to live like the banks, realtors and car manufacturers DO NOT wish us to live.

“IKEA stuff is good for young adults, but once I was in my late twenties, I felt my IKEA decor wasn’t sending out the message that a mature adult lived in my place.”

- Yes, I agree IKEA furniture mostly is for young people (and to some extend useful as a complement to your interior in general). On the other hand, they also sell all sorts of things at moderate prices that has got nothing to do with furniture. For instance, I bought a very good pesto rosso and a bunch of cheap shoe horns that I handed out to certain friends and relatives (because I always get annoyed when I’m about to leave their homes and can’t find one of these tools anywhere!) there recently.