I'm 24 and I wanted a fursuit since I was 16 years old. A year ago I put my foot down and made mine with the help of one of my friends (who happens to be a really good maker). I even spent $3150 on my second one that's currently being made by One Fur All. I realized that even though it's a lot of money and it takes a lot of time but just for once in my life, I want to be a professional animal before I'm too old to do it. At some point I'm going to get married and start a life and put the fandom behind me (I hope) so in the future I wont look back regretting that I didn't do what I always wanted to do.
When I built Spike and commissioned Armalite, I didn't let anyone stop me. I didn't care if people thought I was weird, I'm following my dreams and that's the least weird thing one can do. My family had no idea what furries were nor did my friends. But you know what? I told them straight up, I'm living my dream and I'm happy. If you can't accept me for being happy, then don't link me. But that's not what happened. Everyone thought it was cool and wanted to find out more about the fandom.
Of course, life is about prioritizing. You cant drop insane amounts of money on a suit without being able to afford the cost of living ontop of doing that. I graduated college and university, started my own business, make my own money, and do what I want. No one can scold me for being a furry when you've got accomplishments. No one can tell me to stop dressing up as a big dog and to do something with my life. I'll be as weird and cringey as I please and too bad if they don't like it. I'm my own boss.
Be the boss of your own life and do what you want to do that makes you happy. Don't let others stand in the way of your dreams. Get that suit and get weird. Don't be the person who lives their life in fear of what others think before they're too old and it's too late. Save money and work hard. The sooner you start saving, the sooner you start suiting at cons
