Don't Feel Guilty Spending $$$

Don't get to worked up 63, I think most of us understand your situation. But keep in mind many of us have had prosperous times and have become complacent, please don't hold that against us.

Tmsorosk, I hold nothing against anyone.

I'm younger (25) and to make anything of yourself in my area you normally have to start out by working a lot of hours. I don't mind doing so as its the career I chose but sometimes I wish I could enjoy what I have purchased more than running around all the time working.

I have not yet found a job within my field that you can make good money and not work a lot (unless your management). I'm in banking and enjoy it but it does require a lot of time and effort to be put in.

Yeah, but at the same time, don't spend foolishly. Nothing worse than hearing a system that kicks the butt of your system and costs 1/4 the price.

My entire current system costs as much as my previous preamp alone and is the best sounding system I've personally ever heard.

Live and learn.

There are plenty of careers out there where your can work ~40 hours and make well into the 6 figures. I'm 30...

I just know that I would never, ever work 70-80 hours a week, even for 7 figs. My time is too valuable to me

People are at different points in their lives. Chronologically, family (or lack thereof)-wise, and career-wise. Everyone's gotta do what they've got to do. If I was single with no children and I could make 6 figures working 70-80 hours a week, I'd have done it and banked/invested as much as I could. There's something to be said about buying a house, getting ahead of the game retirement-wise, and having a good cushion for a rainy day before you settle down. Very few people have that opportunity.

I'd feel guilty if buying gear took money out of my family's pockets or took away from their needs. I have no guilt at all. Then again, some people here have a pair of interconnects that cost more than what I paid for my entire system. Not that I have a problem with people spending what they spend; it's not my money, and doesn't have any effect on my life.