I read all the above and wondered why no one mentioned that you no longer need to thread baste a quilt. You can spray baste it. If you quilt it yourself you can do it in sections and be fine. Also, if you plan ahead, you can buy your backing for the next quilt and take it home and wash it before you have to use it.
Quilting is an expensive hobby. But it is an hobby and you spend as little or as much as you'd like.
To excel in any craft, you must spend time and money. Using the very best tools for your craft makes a huge difference. So does the time you spend on it. Decide up front wether you want to quilt as a utility hobby or as a craft.