With a little bit of patience and jumping on the opportunities presented, I have managed to buy most of my festools at a discount.  The CXS was an exception, but I could not help myself.  I am moving back home to Puerto Rico in the next month, and am trying to figure out how to get my hands on an RO125 before I go...

My first purchase was the CT Mini.  I already had a dust deputy so I incorporated it to save on the overall cost of the vacuum.  It was only about two months ago when I got it so I was fortunate enough to get the upgraded motor and HEPA filter with mine.  I bought this as the centerpiece of all the tools that are to follow. 

my first purchase was a used CT22E on ebay, almost a miracle since i didn't win the auction but the winner backed off and the seller contacted me afterwards.
After that i bought a used kapex.
my first new purchase was a rotex 125 which i actually returned because i was disappointed by it.

Mine was an OF 1400 + CT36. When I made my first test cut it was it . I had no idea that it was going to be that nice.

Now I'm going green.

OF1010.  now if friday would come so that i can actually get it.

My first Festool purchase was a TS55 with 2 extra 1400/2 guide rails, the accessory kit, some extra clamps and a CT22.

Just think, all I expected to do that Friday afternoon in January 2006 was to stop by to see the then new location of my long-time woodworking buddy, Jesse Barragán, at Eagle Tools of Los Angeles. I already had a portable contractor's table saw. What I originally wanted was a cabinet-style table saw. Jesse sells several brands of those, but when I explained the layout of my condo, he suggested the Festool track saws. Once I tried a TS55 I convinced myself the cut quality was equal to expensive table saws and required a whole lot less space.

I was on vacation that day, so I put my new saw and CT22 to work within minutes of getting them home. Virtually all the dust was collected so quietly by that CT22 I was not always sure it had auto started!

BTW, I still use that same CT22 several times a week. That first TS55 has never needed service, but I keep it in reserve as the "standard" against which all my other Festool TSxx saws are adjusted to fit my rails.

My first purchase was the Domino 500 with the ct22 dust extractor and the domino tenon selection.  My second and third were close together the ETS 125 was a short term (two week purchase) which I returned for the larger 150/3.  I was so pleased with that sander that I went back the following week and purchased the RO 90.  I have since added the Sys Port and a whole lot of supplies.  I forgot, somewhere in between I added the Jig saw!

First purchase was a syslight a few months back when I was looking into getting a Planex. They didn't have any in stock but I saw the poster on the wall of a guy shining it across a wall and thought that is the perfect light for doing checkouts (I'm a drywall finisher) and it is! It's nice wide bright even light shows up every flaw and its so nice not to have to drag around a 100' cord with a pigtail and 300w bulb anymore.
Now I bit the bullet and ordered a Planex with the ct36 AC which should be here in a couple days. It's replacing a porter cable sander and vac that I just sold to help pay for the festool. I have about 600sqft of popcorn ceiling to take down with it as soon as it shows up as well as a basement I'm in the middle of finishing that ill use it on.

My first purchase was a Domino and the Domino Assortment to go with it...and I was hooked for life.  The Domino moved in, the biscuit joiner moved out, and I've been happily broke buying more tools ever after!