1969, I was 14, had a part time job with a guy that delivered bleach and laundry supplies to houses, restaurants and hotels. I bought a Lloyds am/fm receiver with a built in cassette player at Kmart, I believe it set me back $79 and I thought I had died and gone to heaven. It's been a labour of love ever since.
Your first system and your journey...
Since we are on a audiophile (or is that audio-pile) site many, if not most, have had some decent systems. I would enjoy in hearing from all/any about what your first system was made up of. Mine was a Dynaco, I think something like a 35, tube integrated with some small British two way speakers and a BSR McDonald turntable with something like a 44E Shure cartridge , ...and yes, lamp cord for wires and whatever came on the turntable. It is almost sad to say I have spent much more on some interconnects than that first system cost.