Cats chasing laser pointers

I look at it objectively. We come in this world with nothing and leave the same way.

There are very few things we “Need” food, water, shelter, clothing. Mostly everything else is a “want”.

We spend our discretionary (want) money many ways. Some purchases retain good market resale value, most don’t not.  Outside meals, vacations, movies, better clothing, etc are such examples.  I started out with a junker lemon car, moved up to progressively nicer cars, and my current car is a Lexus.  In high-end audio, I try to purchase used.

If your concern is for purchasing assets with a good resale value, that’s a personal choice to have more assets.  But money is only a tool, it comes and goes.  Look at dogs and cats - owning is for pure enjoyment. Kids? - that’s also asset depleting.

Yes, I get that thought of “money out the window”, but it’s more important to not spend beyond one’s financial abilities aka responsibility.  Enjoyment and memories are priceless, often much more valuable than storing green paper.

Aren't we all programmed to pursue materialistic pleasures? Is there any real way to avoid it? If not audio gear, it will be something else.

A simple way to curb excesses is to avoid the use of credit. Save up for your gear, pay cash, avoid spending money that leaves you short in other important areas. Enjoy it.

Put anything on Tik Tok and you're guaranteed success beyond your wildest dreams. The long sought end goal of business was to condition the population to be blanket consumers (decades in the making). 
Why would anyone think that class, pedigree or status makes one immune to that? Audio is no exception.

All the best,
Nonoise