I'm glad you guys are better at writing that I am. I couldn't quite express it as well as you all did. Again, I have to say I can probably afford more than I buy. I have a few items I spent big money on....big to me. I bought a Summit Viper II about 6years ago to replace a terrible climber I had bought based on price and name I only replaced because it was falling apart and unsafe. The Summit is still in great shape and is one of the best purchases I have ever made. In addition to lifting me off the ground and increasing my viewpoint, I feel that it also makes me safer because it gets me off the ground where I am less likely to be mistaken for a deer (important because I hunt public land and have no say in the people who share my hunting space.) There are definately some good buys out there and also a ton of crap. I got sucked into the scent control vortex about 15 years ago and spent more time planning how to deoderize my clothing than I spent actually planning where I would hunt. Now, I get out in the woods....no matter what, that is the key. Buy what you need to get you out in the woods so you can remain comfortable enough to stay out there and hunt. If you get cold feet, spend your money on boots and socks..and maybe heat packets. IF your hands get cold (me) gloves that will hold chemical heaters are awesome. if you have to choose between the most super duper new cartridge in your rifle or a decent quality scope or site setup for an average rifle, then go with the sights/optics. That's what I mean by hunting on the cheap.......If all you have is a wool sweater , blaze orange vest and borrowed shotgun then that's how you hunt.....and that is how tens of thousands of deer have been dragged out of the woods. New,, shiney stuff is always cool to have but not always better and certainly not always needed.