Lots of good suggestions here. I'm repeating what a lot of guys said here, but it all bears repeating:
1. DO NOT GO INTO DEBT FOR SOMETHING YOU ARE GOING TO SET ON FIRE. Seriously. Fiscal responsibility is truly number one. It's easy to get carried away if you aren't intentional about it. Set a budget and stick to it (pun intended).
2. Don't try to keep up with the Joneses. Lots of guys here have huge stashes. Thousands of cigars. But remember that many of them are retired with no other financial responsibilities, have higher incomes, or have been at this for decades. And though few will admit it, many guys with huge stashes have credit card debt from it. Don't try to keep up, be patient and build your collection over time. I have a stash of about 500 sticks, and I've been building my stash for the better part of a decade now.
3. Don't buy on impulse! Don't get suckered by the ad copy or the flashy deals. They are constant and never ending, and most of them are for mediocre cigars. Ask almost any BOTL here, they'll tell you how they blew money on deal sticks they no longer enjoy, or never really enjoyed, and wish they hadn't purchased in the first place. We've all done it, but maybe you can be the first one not to!
4. Don't intentionally set out to build your stash from the beginning. Take time to figure out what you like first, stick to singles and then fivers, and let your collection build naturally. If you set a budget, maybe stick to samplers early on, and save part of that budget, letting it build. Then when your palate has developed and you've established what you really like, you can get a box. Remember, over time your palate will change and stuff you might like early on will not be enjoyable later on down the road, so don't build too much at first, just keep it small, keep sampling, and eventually you'll just know it's time to buy a box.
I'm still so new at this I'm just loving samplers and the occasional five pack right now.
