If there’s an audiophile exit ramp, this ain’t it…

I tend to hit a spot with all of my hobbies where I think I won’t spend another cent, because I am in a good place with all of them but my reading or Forum discussions stimulate the desire to purchase.  For example, I listen to Classical Music and read magazines that review recordings.  Every time I tell myself that I don’t need a new cycle of Beethoven recordings, about 3 months later I break down.  Streaming has helped curb the impulse purchases but since it exposes me to more music I haven’t really saved any money.  Any way, why should Audio be different?

@redwoodaudio thanks!

All hobbies are money pits but as long as you’re not falling into the other addition like behavors, it’s just a hobby, not an addiction.

--Damaging relationships with other?

--Doing it while alone?

--Effecting your work?

--Secretiveness.

--Lying.

--Financially unpredictable, perhaps having large amounts of cash at times but no money at all at other times.

Damn! Instead of watching Dancing with the stars with my wife, I load CD’s to my Zenith and read What-Hifi?

I love listening to music alone!

Hasn’t gotten to "work" work yet, but definitely effectiving house work.

I absolutely will never tell my wife how much my new i-amp cost!!!!

Haven’t gotten there yet... Yet!

Still have plenty of money, but feel like I could be doing more with the money I have.

Shit! This is basically an addiction.

But again, all I need is a new TT and then I’m done. Gonna sell everything else off in the great purge.

Good luck everyone!

Marketing does insert that desire and dissatisfaction, but in this hobby you probably spend just as much time (if not more) reading other audiophiles' content about whatever you have on your radar at the time.  You probably focus on one area at a time and give all of your attention to that, and then when you make a purchase you move onto another part of your system and obsess about that, and on and on. The impulse buys can be the deadly ones; I saw a video by the Audiophiliac that suggested that if you're caught up in the constant buying/selling circle that you put a hard limit on yourself: NO new purchases for say, two months and stick to it.  Buy nothing.  It's unrealistic to think that you'll go cold turkey from music and equipment purchases for a long time, but it's possible to slow down the merry-go-round and limit those late-night impulse purchases.  And as it has already been suggested, stop endlessly reading (and rereading) equipment reviews/forum comments, including unsubscribing from audiophile YouTube channels and even this forum (don't worry about us; we'll be fine).  At the end of the day though, you're going to have to rein in that impulse to spend money that you will regret later on, and using OCD as a convenient rationale is an attempt to put the blame on something you have no control over (speaking from experience).

You let everyone tell you what they think is best for you.  You didn't take the time to learn what satisfies your wants/needs and develop your own opinions.

@OP,  I've been there!   There are so many good suggestions above.  

One thing that works for me is actually hearing the gear I think about buying.  That's harder to do with brick and mortar industry on life support and the pandemic.  

I made my first trip to AXPONA in 2019.  It was revelatory.  I was able to hear so much gear.  It was helpful to hear things like you refer to--five figure speakers, amps, etc.   It was great to find out that (estimated) 90% of the stuff I was hearing sounded no better than my system at home.  And, the 10% that sounded as good or better was way beyond my budget;  I would need a home equity line to purchase it. 

Even if you've never soldered a thing, you may want to dip your toes into this pool.  It's like knitting for audiophiles! So rewarding, relaxing, fun and virtuous.    If you're looking for a foolproof kit, try Elekit's offerings.  Bar none, the best directions out there.  You can do a 15 minute YouTube soldering course and you're good to go.