Triathlon is not a cheap sport. Just take a look of the pro fields and even age group fields and you hardly will find africans, southamericans , ... why? they standard of life is low..but they play football or run, because they barely need a pair of trainers...
Apart from this, I have followed the sport for more than 20 years, and the expense in equipment is the part of the game that I like the least. Just recently took up training and bought a 600usd second hand bike... I dont judge anybody on spending their money in whatever they want. Right now, i have no job, but even I were working, I would not spend too much. I think getting older makes oneself less competitive (i am 40) (even I focus in improvements)...anyhow, i respect all the opinions and options, but my choice is training more instead of buying more..
BTW, I could tell you some stories of semi pro triathletes and duathletes with precarious jobs, spending all their savings in trips, equipment, fees,etc and sacrifying their education for triathlon...which is a not very lucrative sport. I just dont get it...but we are all grownups...

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Spaniard. Sorry for my english for the sensitive ones :P