I use coupons whenever I can at JoAnn's or the $5.00 yd at my LQS, shop the bigger online sales & shop on e-bay for the stashbuilder boxes that so far (knock on wood) I've been very pleased with. Of course most of my projects are scrappy, but the combinations of colors/patterns have been well received by the recipients & envied by other family members, so it's worked out for me. Also friends have given me a lot of fabric when they found out I am quilting. I've even gone to GoodWill you can take apart old clothing to make quilts & line them with blankets cheaply from there. (Just wash it all real good first). Good luck!