Hmm at 14 I had been working for years with my father (contracting company he owned) and saved enough money to mod the 66 Mustang we had restored from the time I was 9. I probably had $5000 I spent around that time on dumb things not to mention the car. Things got harder when paying for gas, insurance, going out with friends, booze and everything you have to pay for now.
I didnt know about the internet and forums back then, but if I did I can only imagine how I would have been!