I definitely think it's better to have a stash. I love all my fabric and love to "shop" from it. I'm a big Saturday evening and Sunday sewer so I keep a lot on hand since I can't run to the store to pick up extra. I do use my stash. The only fabrics I've bought besides something to go with a certain collection is once a year at Quilt Festival and I don't buy that much. Mostly its just if I see a collection that really catches my eye and I can picture using it in a project.