How to stop upgrading and aviod going bankrupt????

Should we stop reading Audiogon?..This is the place where I go broke because of it....:-)....

Establish your budget and make a rule. That you must have the
best possible sound system within your budget. Now, you can go
to Hifi shops and listen to their stuff all you like -- and you can keep reading all the HiFi mags -- because you are collecting information and educating yourself. There *are* components and speakers that are better "bangs" for the buck and certain components and speakers that wil sound better in some systems than others. If you make sure to buy wisely and buy used, you can have a lot of fun moving equipment through your rack without losing much money at all. But, go back to your rule -- nothing stays unless it beats what you have for the same price. As you move stuff through, you'll get an idea about the synergy between your components,
where a few extra bucks will make the most difference, etc. Stay
within your rules and you can enjoy your obsession without going
broke.

Maybe this will help... a wise old audiophile once told me that the pleasure is not in having great equipment that plays wonderful music. The pleasure is in having all that at bargain prices. The search for the knowledge and experience that makes me able to spot a musical deal-in-a-million, where most others wouldn't, is what keeps me from spending.

They're rare, even here, such deals, but they do exist. Not that I really know a lot, but there are two up right now even as we speak, and I am having fun just watching them.

I don't know how to say this politely, grow up. Don't buy into the hype, escape the materialistic advertising tcrap. Try not to over invest in fleeting joys that will only depreciate in value. Try to invest in things that appreciate in value. All this stuff is supposed to serve you, not the other way around. Make sound decisions, and live with them. Obsession is an illness. That you've recognized it, is a good start. Take long walks in beautifull settings. Good luck and best wishes.

Realize your system is never going to sound like live music so what is the point of chasing diminishing returns when you can decide 'for free' that you are going to be content with what you have and enjoy it. Remember , most of the people in the world will never earn what your system cost, and there is a good possibility that they are better people for it.

Choose to be content...

and buy a racoon!