I agree that doing a master's is the best financial investment right now and can be a good way of learning something a bit more detailed and focused than underg

I agree that doing a master's is the best financial investment right now and can be a good way of learning something a bit more detailed and focused than undergrad. But I think that even a master's won't achieve what the OP wants. (S?)He seems to be looking for motivation and a cheer-leader for his own projects. The best way to get that is not in academia.