Who else here is frugal?

I really want y'all to know and accept that I do respect & admire the commitment to everyone's pursuits...even if I don't agree with everything applied in that process.

We all have our visions of Heaven.

Your local brick & mortar dealer depends upon you, if you choose.  Support him/her if you care.

We all have our own 'means to our ends'; follow such as you see fit.

If my means seem quixotic, and lead straight up without handholds....

Be happy in knowing I am doing (nearly) Precisely what I want to do.

Y'all do that too. *S*  (Like you need permission...right...*L*)

asvjerry,

I don’t think anyone can take your post in a negative light. It was one of the most "honest" posts I have read in my limited time on these forums.

We sound like we are in similar places. Priority #1 being the business, both the daytime one that has allowed me to be deeply involved with many technologies that I find very interesting, not to mention all the people I have met, and the "night-time" hobby one of spending other people’s money on fun stuff.

I would call maintaining the families health also Priority #1, and a little bit of heaven on the water #3.

Spending other people’s money satisfies any "gotta have it" urges I may have. For my own stuff, these days, I am far more focused on what --I-- can do w.r.t. my audio system. I like nice things, but the ability to purchase "things", long stopped contributing any sense of self worth. Having a fellow audiophile positively comment on the sound of your system before knowing you designed and built a good portion of it yourself ..... you can’t put a price on that.

I've found that spending is easier than being frugal. It's much easier to hit "Add To Cart" or run the debit card and get the purchase over with but spending the time and effort to find the bargain can be way more rewarding. I still get the sound I want and as a bonus I get to see the difference in my account.

I find it really annoying reading about a $54,000.00 amplifier (that's right, 54 grand) in stereophile magazine.And the reviewer waxed poetic about the sound of it employing the most absurd superlatives and mind bending descriptions of the sound that it has to be read to be believed. It was featured two months ago. If any ones interested I can find the review online and post it here. Same with Robert Harleys review in TAS of an astronomically priced digital interconnect. It was over 10K. A digital interconnect! What are these guys smoking????? My entire system cost about 2500. Oppo cdp, Schiit Vidar amp, Maggie LRS speakers, B&W powered sub.

Nothing wrong with carefully spending your hard-earned money.