Money isn't everything...I have no money, what most would consider to be a terrible monitoring environment, and an obsession with music production. The result? I've made a lot of music that I love. I don't have many listeners, but the listeners I have tell me that I've been getting better at the mixing and mastering parts of production album by album. I bet that if I started out with an amazing setup that still would've been the case. Don't let your budgetary limitations or the disinterest of the world get in your way if you really want to make music.

That's right jonboper, money can not buy the experience and skill that comes from deliberate practice.
 
BUT, strategic spending of the money your budget allows for will definitely make your deliberate practice more productive and the experience more easily gained. Sometimes even a tiny bit of money invested in a new "toy" can spark new creativity as well.
 
You would be shocked at how much a even a single blowout-priced Auralex treatment set will improve your mixing environment (Musicians Friend was recently selling a discontinued set for about $129) or a even a $30 investment in a book (like Mixing Secrets) can fine-tune your deliberate practicing and almost overnight noticeably improve your skills.
 
If you really do have NO money, then you are absolutely correct. Do the best you can with what you have and above all HAVE FUN DOING IT!!!

Thanks Maker & Jonb!  Your tips are very valid.
I'm not exactly flat broke but I feel as if I've spent enough on the music gear for a while.  I have to tighten the belt because I'm retired and on a fixed income.  I just bought the Scott Garrigus book on Sonar X3 Power, and I'll take your advise on the Mixing Secrets book but right now I'm a bit strapped having to also need to buy supplies for my yard and garden.  My wife and I are in the process of beautifying our yard (it's beautiful.  The envy of the neighborhood.  I'm sooooooooooooo proud), but there will still be room for music.  It's just that I need to take a break.  Oh, and I also recently bought Izotope's new Vocalsynth and have definate plans for that puppy.  I told my wife that I was going from writing Pop style tunes to experimental avant guard stuff and she said "Well, you're about to lose your biggest fan if you do that".  But I love experimental stuff.  Edgar Varese appeals to me.  Some people think his stuff is too bizarre to be considered serious music, but I like him.  I also loved Zappa and the crazy stuff he did.  He's just as much an inspiration as Billy Joel is to me.
 
JB

Ah! Those pesky "real life" priorities! They ruin all our fun don't they?
 

Johnbee58
My wife and I are in the process of beautifying our yard (it's beautiful.  The envy of the neighborhood.  I'm sooooooooooooo proud), but there will still be room for music.  It's just that I need to take a break. 
 
JB

I can imagine the beauty of your place!
 
Yes, there is still room for music, I do a lot of my composing while gardening as the quiet affords me a chance to "listen" :)