I used to buy only what I needed for each project with just a tad extra for cutting distractions that might happen.
Then I bough material to go with the leftover fabric for more projects. Now since I don't stick to just one color palette you can imagine what I had next.
Gads, it hasn't taken long til it all accumulated.
Then friends wanted to downsize so we traded stash. Somehow my stash grew again.
Then I won fabric at various events/classes/etc.
I don't think anyone has to go looking to build a stash ... unless you are an art quilter.
ali