I've been retired just short of a year. We're comfortable but I think twice before just stash building. For years, my BFF and I have gone fabric shopping, looking for bargains to build our stash, or "saving for our retirement". With the prices going so high, I've never been more thankful for all the yards I have tucked away. I try to only buy what's necessary to complete a quilt but try to rely on my stash. It's an entirely different mind set and think there's more warmth and personal depth in my quilts now. Instead of searching for the absolute perfect fabric, my mindset is now "use what you have or close enough". Thank heavens for CT though. When I can buy 4 yards of sale fabric for around $12 to back my quilts or use as sashings, I'm overjoyed.
Like any other commodity, the sky is the limit as to how far prices can go.