Audiophiles are broke because a lot of you are doing the same thing my friend almost did: dropping a stupid chunk of savings on “endgame” gear. So in this video I lay out my no-BS money framework for audio spending: the 1/3/6 rule. I built it off the US median income numbers (not average, because averages get skewed), then I factor in taxes to estimate what a normal person actually has as usable cash flow. The whole point is to keep the hobby fun without going into debt or nuking your future. Using the median after-tax income (about $47,474), I recommend 1% for beginners/casuals (~$470/year), 3% for intermediates (~$1,400/year), and 6% for hardcore hobbyists (~$2,800/year). You can spend it monthly or save up and buy bigger pieces less often—just pay bills first, then audio. I also talk about mix-and-match budgeting (IEMs vs source vs tips/cables), when it makes sense to go above 6%, and why 10% is my absolute “max threshold” even if you’re making a lot. For non-US / lower buying-power countries, I generally recommend 1–3% (or up to 10% if you’re trying to match a similar “quality of life” in gear, but I still think 6% is safer). And if you’re part-time or low income, stick close to 1%—because $1,000 IEMs when you’ve got $2K in the bank is just not it.