What everyone has said - buy onsale - sew with what I have. Let family know my best gift is a certificate from my LQS. I buy fabric wherever they sell it so ... not all quilt shop fabrics. I buy bundles - Fabric Cafe has many - that come out to less than $8/yd - sometimes MUCH less. I use those as stash - not always keeping them together as a bundle. My LQS has a sale shelf for $3.99/yd and another for $5.99. I shop those shelves first. Batting - always half price - Joann's puts it on sale too often to pay more. Won't buy it otherwise. I've used Walmart sheets for backing. I simply love this too much to give it up! I only have special gifts quilted - that translates to 4 of the 50 I've made in the last two years. Just can't afford that!