I spent way too many years "making do with what I had". My DH worked very hard to be able to give me a life that I could do what I want without having to worry about where the money would come from. Now being a widow living alone, except for a Great Dane to keep me company, I buy what I feel will be a good value for me. Will I use a pattern more than once? Will that template do more than one thing? Last year I bought myself a HQ Avante, and love every minute of it. I quilt mostly for myself, and do some quilting for my close friends. But having a life changing health issue last fall, I have decided life is way too short to worry about an $8 pattern if I want it. My life is my quilting, and it keeps me sane. I am of the "If you want it and you can afford it, you should have it" frame of mind.