As others have said, yes, FQ's tend to be more expensive than yardage. Depends on what type of quilting you plan to do. Myself, I'm not into the scrappy look and don't really maintain a stash. I buy for projects only but I do over buy usually by a yard or better. This gives me room to straighten the grain of the fabric as well as have room for boo boos as we all make those! And anything left over from those projects is what I have for a stash for an odd block here and there for a swap or to try a new technique.