This hobby of ours certainly encourages "champagne taste on a beer budget." As many previous posters have attested, this can be accomplished if you buy smartly, whether that be used equipment or new equipment purchased thru industry sources. Count yourself lucky if you have any industry contacts. Or, count yourself lucky if you have a friend on an unlimited budget that shares our hobby, so that you can see what can truly be achieved..
What do/did you do for a living?
With the increasingly high priced items people own and are selling, I'm curious about the line of work people do or have done. I thought my $5k integrated was a massive investment, but seeing users searching for $100k speakers or $75k SET amplifiers has me curious about the varying lines of work people do to afford these items.