I'm an 18 year old who graduated highschool this year and had a brief stint with the military. I currently work two jobs just to keep my bills paid and to have a little cash on the side. I'm having serious problems trying to afford quality gear. When you were my age how did you go about acquiring quality gear?

It is funny, a player`s playing usually somehow winds up matching the quality of the gear he plays. If someone lives and breathes music, and gets decent at playing, he will find a way to get gear that he can work with. Please note-although it`s best to play well and have good gear(does NOT have to be expensive) it is better to be a good player on crap gear than a crap player on good gear. Just keep playing. Eventually you will be able to get the gear your playing is worthy of.