Don't spend more on an album than you can comfortably afford, unless you can get someone else to pay for it. Think of recording as an integral, ongoing part of what you do, just like writing, practicing and gigging. Don't stop everything else just because you're recording. Don't wait for that perfect moment to record any more than you'd wait for a perfect time to write, practice or perform. And don't expect one or two isolated recordings to make your career any more than you'd rely on one or two songs or one or two special gigs.
Recording is a tool.
Not an end in itself.