How much are you worth ?

Well let's see now -- using the formula you've provided , that would leave about 52% of the budget for high-end purchases. I'd say that's just about right. :)

I'll answer for most of us here.

Got $30K system and $30 bucks in the bank. Well, actually the ratio's not that bad, but I do have some Nortel stock I paid $126 a share for last year and now it's worth ....uh....uh .... if only I would have sold and bought those Levinson 33's!

I once read in Sterophile that you could increase your net worth by investing in interconnects that were too short, too long, or too bright... and that those Black Diamond Racing things are very collectible. Wait, let me look in the drawer ... by gosh, I'm rich!

(Sorry Ryllau, I know you were asking a serious question -- but I couldn't resist -- besides, this a HOBBY and as such, it transcends many demographic and psychographic boundaries -- and in many cases, boundaries of common sense. That's what makes it so much fun.

To answer your question: read the post "who am I" and you'll get a real feeling for the kind of folks that inhabit this place we call audiogon. --Lorne

My system cost the same as I have in the bank which is too little. My vehicle was bought outright new and cost twice that. I don't own a home, have no real debt besides month to month expenditures and come and go as desired without quarrel or expectation. My life is that of a businessman and adventurer, two things with much in common.

Having bought most of my gear last year it has taken until now to learn enough to begin to know how to get the most from it. There is still more to learn which is exciting. Someday my knowledge will justify even better equipment, but not until this set is maxed out. Tonight the sound is superb.
BR>Guess that makes me wealthy beyond my wildest dreams.

my system would cost more if i hadn't lost 75% of my money in tech stocks over the last 12 months :-(

If money in the bank includes 401k's and equity in your home, then my systems as a percentage of my net worth are negligible. Being a contrarian I stayed way from tech stocks last year (even though I work in the semiconductor business) but find there's money to made in the tech stock market now. So rather than plowing money into an overheated stock market in 2000 I spent it on some long overdue system upgrades I decided I "needed". For the life of me, I can't think of anything I want or need for my audio system, this is disturbing. I'll keep buying records until the hardware need becomes obvious. Jeff