How to live to old age in the Mopar hobby

I agree that any education has value. It can also be learned when you have put enough $$ into a certain car that you are or soon will be upside down. People will argue that is the hobby. I disagree somewhat.
The world is full of these old cars. The title to this is how to stay in this hobby for many years, decades. And not be independent wealthy. Not go broke. Not have the wife divorce you.
With me over the decades, cars came and went. I have made profits on some cars, others just got my investment back as to cost of the project parts, materials and NOT my labor. If I lost $$ on every old car I drug home well that would mount up. Yes it I a hobby I love, but it has always needed to pay its way.
So here is my #3. Never overpay for any project. Buy on what you think it is worth not what anyone else says. Calculate at what point you will have more in it than what anyone will pay you for it. OK so you say it is your dream car , you will never sell, OK, skip on along.
Back to the project. A book could be and has been written here, but her are my idea of basics:
Buy a complete car or close. Parts are expensive and not that plentiful anymore. Do you want to travel a million miles looking pay shipping?
Be honest with your abilities. Forget about wanting to learn body work and the experience will pay dividends. Do you really have the $$$ for all the equipment and tools. Can you even begin to use them? etc etc etc
By a decent runner. At least decent. What will the machine work cost to get it running? Can you assemble or what a clean room to do so. If you rebuild an engine, will that particular model enable you to sell and get your $$$back?
Find a project that someone else has put $$ in and wants to bail. And did acceptable work. That has extra parts worth some $$ to go with the project, thrown in.
They to find one that has some good interior work already done. Interior gets expensive. Stay away from goofy custom work.
Pay a little more for a good project. Who wants to replace frame rails unless it is a car that will be worth the $$ and work for instance. If you ever decide to sell and you live in the rust belt, a solid documented car NOT from the salt will pay some dividends. Shipping costs, but........
I realize there are people that bought their project 30 years ago and they are still trying to get it on the road. This thread is not for them.