Buying fabric for when I retire... doesn't quit work for me..

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06-30-2010, 03:35 PM

#41

fabric_fancy

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2010

Location: at my sewing machine

Posts: 1,916

when planning for retirement, i find its better to keep my money and invest in appreciating assets instead of fabric.

i buy when things are on sale and i avoid any trendy type fabrics and all novelty lines.

these fabrics become dated very quickly and won't have a lasting quality in your stash.

06-30-2010, 03:38 PM

#42

RugosaB

Super Member

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: Ohio, just east of Toledo

Posts: 1,369

I've been 'buying for the future' for 30 yrs.! I learned something along my way that justified this: If I store it along as outside wall, it's no longer just fabric, it's insulation!

06-30-2010, 03:41 PM

#43

irma tapia

Senior Member

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: Dallas TX

Posts: 367

I bought fabric for two years and I'm retired now....sure glad I did that because those retirement checks are aweful, just not enough.

06-30-2010, 03:44 PM

#44

RugosaB

Super Member

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: Ohio, just east of Toledo

Posts: 1,369

I just thought of something that happened about 20 yrs ago. At our mall there was a 'Woolworth's' that was closing, and it had a bunch of fabric in 3 yr precut bundles, for $1. Good fabric too. I bought as much as I could, kept it in a protected place, and I'm glad to report it's still good
3 yd for $1. Over the years I've continuesd to add to my stash cheaply, mostly because stores were going out of business

06-30-2010, 03:46 PM

#45

butterflywing

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2008

Location: currently central new jersey

Posts: 8,623

think of what the interest rates are if you keep money invested. now think of how fast the price of fabrics is going up. i consider fabric a better investment than money in the bank. or, at today's rate, stocks and bonds.

06-30-2010, 03:47 PM

#46

Quilting Nana

Senior Member

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: La Verne, CA

Posts: 794

Quote:

Originally Posted by leakus

I am in the mid forties. Cannot wait to retire to have more time to quilt. Less than a month ago, I had the urgency of making a bed quilt for my 5 yr old son. (I'll post a picture when I finish it)- to make the story short. I was looking into my stash to make this quilt for him and I realized of 2 really bad things- or 3.
1- my stash is not really big- I have to keep working on it...
2- I picked some fabrics to start his quilt but didn't have all to finished it- I needed more fabric/s either to combine with the ones I had or the yardage I had was not enough
3- I will have to keep buying fabric for ever!! I have to re-do my figures to ensure I'll have money for it in my retirment plan.
Does it happen to you? Do you think of buying fabric for your future projects? Should I not worry as there will be always websites where to buy fabric... and money to sustain my hobby!

When my 3 sons were young I had to put my sewing away. But I knew the time would come when I would have plenty of time to quilt so I would use my JoAnns coupons to buy my tools.
I buy fabric only when it is on sale and I pretty much know what I am going to use it for.
Now I have grandchildren and I do buy fabric with their favorite characters on it.
I probably have a large stack of Thomas, Toy Story, Little Einsteins, ect.
My 18 month GS wanted a quilt so I got out about 8 different character fabs and put them on the floor I called him in and he just stood there for a few minutes looking. Then he went to the one he wanted and just sat on them.
He got his quilt a few weeks later.
Anyway long story long don't stress just buy what you like and when you come up with a pattern you like you will go out and buy more. :-)

06-30-2010, 05:21 PM

#47

Annz

Power Poster

Join Date: Nov 2009

Location: West Roxbury, Ma

Posts: 10,353

Buying some fabric now is a good idea but don't get too carried away. The way I hear it we may not be able to retire until we are in our 70's. I hope they are joking. I have a good size stash but still go out and buy more fabric because I may not like the previous ones I thought I had liked way back then.. So it is good to have a stash but not too much as it may end up going to waste or to donations.

06-30-2010, 05:57 PM

#48

leakus

Senior Member

Thread Starter

Join Date: Jun 2010

Location: Margate, FL

Posts: 955

I am amazed!! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, for your candid welcome to this forum and for all the great ideas you poured here that I will implement for sure.
For sure my "problem" is not solved but I can start practicing other ways to see how it goes. I liked the idea of putting together "projects" for future with the magazine or pattern in shoe boxes. mmmmmm.... if this is a disease - incurable- let's accept it and move on...
THANKS ALL, I am so happy I found this forum. See you!!
andrea

06-30-2010, 06:03 PM

#49

texas granny

Super Member

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: Paige, Texas

Posts: 1,062

I think if its in your budget and you can get a yard or two each payday you will be adding to your collection. Or instead of just buying fabric buy for project. Find a pattern you like and then start buying the fabric for that quilt. Keep it together in a bag or tote so the fabric isn't pulled for another project.

06-30-2010, 06:14 PM

#50

alozzamev

Member

Join Date: Jun 2010

Posts: 14

I find that as times go on and new fabrics come out I like many of the newer ones more. I love the batiks. I also find that I never have enough of someting in my stash and thenhave to search for something to go with it. I do have a large stash but buy less and less so I can buy what I want when I find a pattern that I can't do without.