In a way my boyfriend "lets" me buy fabrics because he's the one who's driving (I don't have a license). But when we're in the shop he doesn't tell me what I can and can't get. Its my money afterall. Heck he'll even help me pick fabrics occassionally ("what do you think of this one, honey?" I'll ask) and he'll ask me questions when I bring up some sort of quilting term he doesn't understand ("okay, what's a 'jellyroll?'"). The first time he took me to a quilt shop it was my birthday and he was paying for the fabric because I asked for quilting fabric for my birthday...I picked a few out, but started to put a couple away when I found they were real expensive. He asked me if I really liked them and I said, "Well, yeah. But they're expensive and I'm not really sure what to do with them". He said, "If you like them, go get them."
I think he understands what it takes to go into a quilt. During an arguement (not about quilting) I had blurted out I was making a quilt for him. Even told him he had picked out the green fabrics for his own quilt. Had told him I wanted to make a green quilt and needed a second opinion on picking fabrics (his favorite color is green). Later on he asked me, "You're really making a quilt for me?" and thought it was real sweet that I was going through the effort to make one for him. Then I told him "Would probably be easier just to buy you a new Xbox for Christmas, but I love you enough to make a quilt".
I think he got what I meant because the next thing he said was "My quilt costs as much as a new XBox?"
"Just about. Buying all those green fabrics at different prices and shipping rates adds up."