If I hear "I bought a lot of fabric!" I think yardage. It may be due to me buying clearance, looking for sales, combining coupons, etc. I want to make a lot of donation quilts, so really try to keep the $/yard low (although still good quality).
I've seen the quilt shop my SIL really likes, and it's expensive! I could not afford to buy "a lot" there, although I could end up spending "a lot".
When I shop at Marshall's (online only, since I live too far) I tend to get a lot of their $1.99 fabrics for backing baby quilts, since they have so many bright colors on basic patterns! I'd be afraid of what I could spend on fabric there if I was able to see it all at once and didn't have to pay for shipping!