One year down, two to go. What's the longest you have saved for one component?

It’s not that hard to pay cash for cars. One must be disciplined, and then typically buy at least 2-3 year old model. Some will even buy a more expensive import that way out of an effort to get superior longevity, i.e. Mercedes that could do 200 to 300K miles. millercarbon exhibits some characteristics of net worth millionaires. Denying extravagance and extreme fiscal personal policy is typical of them. Most do not have the knowledge or self discipline to prioritize that way. :)

Of course, such matters should be looked at holistically. It seems to be the smart thing to do paying cash for a car. Not necessarily the best option, however. One may get ahead by buying a new car at 0% loan APR, then investing the amount of the car over the period of the loan. Now the power of compound interest is working for you, not the automobile manufacturer. So, anotherbob is correct that some loans are actually advantageous; some marginally so, and others - when good fiscal discipline is employed - more so.

Of course, avoidance of buying any car is ideal, and one has to weigh the necessity of it. The person who buys used and drives it for 15+ years will do better than someone who flips cars and keeps making a payment, and very likely better than someone who buys new at 0% and invests. It would be pretty easy to run the simulations, and that is what a net worth millionaire would do. That’s how they get to become wealthy. They do not just guess or care less. :)

To those that have expressed encouragement: thank you☺
To those that have expressed concern: again thank you, and a bit more of an explanation.
I haven't used credit, this is my own savings plan on my own terms, think of it as reverse hp. I make a payment every month, when I've finished making all the payments i will get the item. So no debt involved.
 I have a modest income, but an unusual lifestyle. Just turned 50, no kids, occasionally have a partner but mainly a hermit. Where I live is very remote, all so i can play as loud as i like, as late as i like and the power supply is as clean as a mountain stream; I'm the only property on my transformer. 

 I work from home, never fly, rarely leave the valley i inhabit unless to go fellwalking and recreational driving on the excellent, lightly trafficked roads here in the Scottish Borders. My main hobby (fellwalking) is free, my third hobby, tuning jap cars, is on hold for now.

I wish it were only my disposable income, but I am required to live frugally to finance the purchase. I've never owned a new car, probably never will.

To occasionallycurrent: the rest of my gear:
speakers Focal Stella Utopia, supplemented with four Velodyne DD18+ in stereo bass stacks
pre-amp Wavac pt-t1 with Amperex valves
phonostage Boulder 1008
turntables Kodo the Beat, Artisan Fidelity 301 statement, arm Ikeda IT 407 with ebony headshell, cartridge Van den Hul Colibri Grand Cru, in the pipeline Schroeder LT tonearm (the Beat) and Miyabi Fuuga (301)
Digital Esoteric P03 - D03,
Grounding Entreq Olympus Tellus, i/c Cables Entreq Atlantis, Rack Artesania Exoteryc (sic), dedicated power lines to each component and additional 100amp circuit for power amp, separately fused on my main board.
I suspect you might appreciate what I've done outside? Dug out approx 2,000 tons of earth and rock to create an amphitheatre, partially completed by hand whenever i ran out of funds. I've acquired some dolby thx- spec ex-cinema speakers, the EAW MC4973 https://images.app.goo.gl/xV7NhSba3oea14SM7, although since the weather here is, shall we say challenging? I haven't yet completed the outdoor system and it's EAW BH883 Big Bertha - Levan subwoofers, as whenever i get some spare funds it's harder to justify spending on the outdoor system and they usually get hoovered up by my domestic system.

And yes, i love the Boulder sound.
It just does everything. From awesome power to exquisite delicacy,  it brings such a rich timbre that once you start listening, you are drawn in to the music and cannot stop. So far in my system the only other amps to manage that feat were Analogue Domain, and the Artemis is even more expensive than 2160.

To vermonter the cat is fine and distinctly unconcerned😁
I'm having a talented fabricator who works on my cars build me a frame for a cat hammock that will go above the amp, with a decent air gap and a waterproof layer beneath to catch any....discharge.
I've learned that it is futile trying to keep the her off the amp, so will instead lean into it and make a comfy, puke- proof platform for the wee beastie.

Perhaps the final piece of the puzzle?
I was a free party / rave organiser through the 1990's with a group called the Exodus Collective. My system goal is to reproduce the effect of a large dance rig playing in a warehouse, my musical preferences are 50% bass-driven electronica, so deep house, trance, drum and bass, trip hop, hip hop, trap and reggae music, which i used to dj,
 and 50% acoustic, delicate and ethereal material like Alt- j and Zero 7, with a sprinkling of rock, pop and folk

I believe in that old saying, “One person’s ceiling is another’s basement”.  I worked in a low-paying profession for 37 years, lost a house in the divorce, put my son through college.   I’m now retired, so I have even less monthly income.  I am frugal by necessity, so I find it interesting to read that some members here own $10,000 speakers or a $20,000 amp, while my whole system now cost me about $7,000.  

In addition to limited income, I have other priorities in my life that cost money.  I have not gone into debt with any of my audio purchases, and I prefer to pay cash or wait and save up.  I think I have to take what money I have and seek balance amongst the priorities — and one can never know ahead of time when sudden health expenses will appear.  Others have more money and different priorities, so more power to them if it makes them happy.  

Gasman, I’m glad you are enjoying your new amp and system — the thing that surprises me the most is your charitable feelings toward your cat.  I’m not a pet owner, but if my pet caused that kind of damage I would be highly upset and banish the critter from my listening room.  It can go lay on a heating vent instead.  Take care.

@skip0327,

’Linn Sondek LP-12 since 1985.’


I almost fell into the same trap back in the 1980s.

The damned price kept going almost season by season.

Eventually after 3/4 years of this I bought one used and got it updated.

Not sure how much I saved by buying used, the costs racked up pretty quickly, but at least I finally got off the saving up/waiting train.

gavman, so, you're doing all this for exercise?  ;)

What an interesting situation, and obviously unique one at that! You are in the rare position of doing what you described without endangering your livelihood, it seems. It is fascinating to hear about audiophiles' personal lives; they are as varied and complex, with as many nuances as the systems they build. It's also interesting to see how personal experience and preference plays into the build process, as a search for a particular outcome. 

I do know of at least one instance where a person was highly imbalanced in life and was spending inordinately on equipment, which caused a great deal of pain and trouble. But, you seem to be on a grand adventure, leveraging your strengths to achieve unusual outcomes. Kudos! 

bob540 is also to be commended, and looking at the fiscal challenges he has had, a $7K+ system is quite an accomplishment! It's a definite labor of love, and I hope you enjoy it thoroughly! Contentment makes one happy, not money.  :)