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When someone asks what you want for Birthday, Christmas etc... provide them a "Wish List" with the prices and where they can purchase them.
I've started an Amazon "Wish List" and also have told family that gift cards to fabric stores are great :D
Used tools work just as well as new and it's ok for gifts to be "re-gifted" to me :D.
Coupons and "senior" days are great at Hancocks. sign up for prefered customer and you get great discounts that normal sales fliers don't have.

If you buy at Australian prices - $25 - $55 per metre , you can't, so you shop on line and buy from the US for a quarter the price. Other than BOM's, I usually only buy for a specific project. Can't afford to impulse buy.

About once a year many shops allow their customers to sell their own stash to clear out space for their new projects.

In this way, one can find fabric, Quilt Shop quality for 2 or 3 dollars a yard. Yardage is usually noted. If this is not the case,
ask your local quilt shop to host sale. They will usually do so and showcase their own fabrics and fat quarters.

If there is a quilt group, sell lemonade or tea and little sandwiches.
Sellers usually pay a 10 dollar fee to shop owner and if you can get 10 sellers during a slow time of year for the shop, they go for it. It is also great PR for them.

As an organizer, you of course would get first choice, right?
Cindy

Quote:

Originally Posted by lillybeck

Being on a fixed income myself I am finding it very hard to keep quilting or even sewing for the grandkids. I hit the sales when I can but sometimes can not even do that.

I totally understand. I have very little material and bought some here on the quilting board. I never have enough thread. I have a few projects right now I have to wait because I can't buy thread right now. Tight is not the word. I'm sure we all have doctor bills or whatever it is. For me I use old wool blankets for the batting. I made a few for my girls and they love it. It really keeps them warm. For a King size wool blanket it cost $6.00. I can get a couple batting pieces for quilts out of it. Depending on the size of the quilt. I also use clothing not just cotton either. I made a scrappy quilt for 2 of my girls of all their favorite clothes. I tell all family members to save there shirts, ties, jeans for me. I don't get a lot but every little bit I do helps. I did stop quilting for a little while because of cost and back at that point once again. I have some material coming and once its gone i'll see what is next. Plus I don't have no fabric stores close by and for me to travel is crazy with the gas prices. So if anyone knows of thread cheap somewheres let me know. Happy quilting!!!

This is why I'm not ashamed of building up a large stash now while I have the income to do so. I know eventually I'll be on a limited income and my stash will be my life saver then!

I have had angels send me things,also watch for sales. I cant get out to go to yard sales and no thrift shops near me.I was selling enough to support my hobby,but my source fro that is gone,other than Etsy which is so vast your stuff gets lost.

The last number of year, everyone has had to tighten their belts to pay more for the nessesities so I do alot of crazy quilting which tradionally does not use batting and I recycle dresses, skirts, & shirts. A local thrift shop sells all clothing for 50 cents a piece so I get some great buttons & trims off clothing too. Moosegirl

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarenR

Sales-Sales-Sales.

Buy when I get it for $2.00 a yard.
Give up eating out for lunch.
No coffee, expensive tea, etc.

Bring my own cans of pop.

I figure quilting keeps me sane. So I do spend on some items.

I am on a fixed income of just over $300 per fortnight and I am lucky that DH pays the bulk of the bills but I save my money for the special shows. I take my own food and drink and take the train to the venue. I am able to save a little from groceries each fortnight too which helps out when needed. I don't get paid for my housework and no money from DH so saving is the best way to go for me, but every one is different. You are lucky that you can find fabrics at yard sales --here there is no such thing and the charity shops don't have have any either.

Well, never learning to drive so I could go to a quilt shop whenever I felt like it helps. lol.

When I've been out with my boyfriend and we go into a shop I buy a little bit of fabric. It used to be I would buy what I need, but lately I find myself giving in to actually building a stash. But I don't buy out the whole store. I buy quarter and half yards for the things I really like, but not sure what to do with it at the moment. I figure I can always go back to that shop if I needed more. If I buy a whole yard its because its for a project I planned. And its fabric that I absolutely adore and cannot leave the store without...if there's a doubt in my mind on whether or not I have a use for it or that really want it I do NOT buy it. It HAS to make me go "OMG! Its pretty! This would look awesome with this idea I had!"

When I posted that I was building a stash and had spent $35 people were like "That's it?" like I had accomplished a feat for spending so little. You can go into a quilt shop and not spend your whole paycheck. lol.

I don't buy everything in one visit either. If tend to gradually buy things. Like...I don't usually buy batting unless the quilt topis done. Having the batting on hand will not make piecing the quilt top any faster.

I haven't done a lot of quilts. I envy the women who whip up a quilt every month. Since I started quilting I average less than one quilt a year. But I think not quilting a different project all the time saves me money. I'm not finishing the previous project in a short amount of time and then buying fabric for the next one. So maybe do a project that takes up your time doing other projects or do fewer projects.

And see if your quilt shop have sale days---one of the places I've been going to (Olive Juice Quilts in La Crosse, WI) has "Bag Lady Day" where the first Thursday of the month you fill a bag with fabric and all the fabrics in the bag are 20% off. A shop I went to on Tuesday (they had Moda marbles so I'm going back) has a frequent buyer program. Take advantage of that sort of stuff.

freecycle.com is an awesome site, for sure. Should be very helpful for many crafters!