yeah, not to be snide, but it's amazing what you can do with a decent job, or, if necessary, two, especially if you have solid priorities.
if you want to have a career as a musician, that kind of financial planning (i.e. figuring out how to make the kind of money you need to get the kind of gear/equipment you want) is essential - eventually instead of gear you'll need to do the same thing except to hire folks to help out, whether it be in the recording process, or the live performance aspect.
besides, you'd be amazed at how much gear you can buy if you get a decent job and stick to a budget. for most of the time that i put together my collection (and my recording studio, which isn't as glamourous but was just as expensive) i was making less than $40 k a year, and had a mortgage to take care of too.