You'll be amazed at the amount of fabric that piles up over time. I started out buying like others mentioned...because I crafted, decorated, putzed around with lots of little projects going nowhere until I found quilting. I was lucky enough to inherit fabric from a few quilters who gave up their hobby due to health issues. That plus a few years of buying stuff just because I liked it makes for a nice little stash. By they time I hit retirement, there will be no need to go out for fabric (not that it will stop me from buying it, of course!!).
You'll get there. :D