Around 5 years

I have a couple of turntables and preamps. My daily driver is a customized NAD 533, upgraded Rega RB330 tonearm from Originlive and a machined underslung counterweight from Iceni Audio. I use an Audio Technica VM740ML cartridge or a Mofi UltraTracker. I switched out the platter for a Delrin one and swapped out the sub-platter for that of a Rega RP6. I got an external speed controller (Project Speedbox DS) to switch between 33 & 45, this also allowed me to switch to a double pulley. Added additional bracing and a lot of other mods. This has a Yaqin MS23B for preamp duties I also have a lightly modded Rega P3 (with the Neo PSU) with an RB880 arm off a Rega P8, and a Michell Engineering VTA collar. I use a Rega Apheta 3 with an ifi Micro Phono3 on this turntable. I am most proud of my Denon DP-55K with a Koetsu SA1100D tonearm and a vintage Audio Technica ART1 cartridge with a Dared LP1 phono preamp My test rig is a Rotel RP955 with a Nagaoka MP110 and a Project Phono Box S

If you are like me and buying records to listen to them, purge any record you haven't touched in over a year. Sometimes keeping your record collection small with the records you actually want is better than having a bunch of records you don't like and will most probably never listen to. Invest in outer sleeves and inner sleeves, you don't need to keep your vinyl pristine, but the small things help ensure you will be able to enjoy them a lot longer. Set aside a budget for upgrading your system. You can start cheap with an AudioTechnica LP60X or something similar but if you really like vinyl, get a better turntable, maybe a Rega or a Technics. Slowly upgrade your chain, better cartridges, better preamps, and better speakers. Parting advice, don't chase unicorns and grails. If you can't afford the first pressing, wait for it to get repressed, the world does not end because you couldn't get your hands on a vinyl you wanted