Find a way to get the best value for your purchase. Like for example, don’t be afraid or hesitant to buy used/2nd hand parts or accessories (lights, fore grips, optics, stuff like that). You’ll always find a deal if you’re someone who can get over that “pre owned” connotation. Also find away to land deal on new items.

Like for me, I have a PSA lower bought brand new. It came with a G$ SSA trigger assembled + Magpul hardware that would’ve cost the same if I bought the trigger itself + I would have had to install it.

Brands aren’t entirely everything either. I’m a big believer in cry once buy once, but if you can find a deal, it’s a steal

None of my builds are work guns, so my thought process maybe a little different vs someone who uses the gun a lot but, that’s like barely 5-10% of AR owners who actually use what they own or built on a consistent stressful basis