As a librarian, I think I was pretty good about staying organized. Binders for patterns - florals - baby/child - miscellaneous. When purchasing specifically for a pattern, I kept the receipts with my notes. Took pictures of almost all quilts made. As a sister of a fabriholic, I did not purchase more than I could see & know what I have. There will always be "new" fabrics each year & tastes will change over time.