I am nearing retirement also and I know I won't be able to buy fabric then so while I still can I am going to stock up. I have quit buying fat quarters. I have so many and I don't know what to do with them. My LQS has a back room with several racks of sale bolts on them. She turns her stock around fairly quickly and we benefit from that. She also puts patters and notions on there and keeps her front for current and new things. I like kits and have many of them now and if I can I buy extra fabric to match just in case I cut something wrong which I usually do. I think the prices are definately going up and have gone up. I thought I would never see the day that fabric would be 9-11 dollars a yard but it has. Quilting is expensive but if you have a business then it's not really ha hobby.