i budget fairly stringently- i quilt for others to help support my 'habit' i do not get into the household budget for my hobby- i do what i can to make extra- pick up an extra shift- sell something, do consignments, and quilt- all make it possible to keep stocked and happy :)
i also keep every receipt and keep close (tabs) on my spending- and if i find i really went over board one year- i assess why and work on (fixing) that.

I started buying Men's cotton shirts 15 for $3 at a thrift store. My first quilts were all from men's shrts. Still using that stash and now the shirts are 15@$5 still a lot of material for little money. buy remnants at JoAnns occasionally yardage for a specific project. Did calculate what one quilt cost and I was shocked! All new fabric. I use old sheets for backing either from thrift store or some I inherited when a friend passed.

Quilting is my sanity. I shop with coupons, buy only used clothes for myself, have a garden and fruit trees which save money. The only 'expense' i have for me is quilting. With that said, I try to only buy on sale and I only shop after everything else has been accounted for. I don't allow myself to ever charge my hobby, if I don't have cash, I don't get it. I have not tabulated how much I have spent, however; I do keep track of how much I have saved with coupons and sale prices. Does that count?

I am on a pretty tight budget so anything I spend on quilting is carefully planned. If possible, I borrow tools that I don't already have and need for a specific project, and rent books from the library instead of buying them. I recently splurged on fabric but that was a birthday gift and the amount I spent was carefully calculated and stuck to like glue!

In the past, when I worked full time, I spent money without really accounting too much. I would keep receipts only as references for where I purchased a certain fabric line, etc., but not to add up and see how much I spent. Now, I only spend what I can afford and plan carefully. Of course, I am not a fabric hoarder. I buy fabric for specific projects and rarely, when I see something I love, I will buy it and stash it for later use.

For what it is worth, if you think the dollar amount of your receipts is going to inhibit your enjoyment of quilting, then I say toss them in the fire and burn them. If you are on a budget like me and want to make sure you are not over-spending, that is a different story. Just don't let the money involved make you feel guilty about doing what you love. Remember, all those quilts you have gifted were GIFTS so you would have spent that money anyway and in the case of quilting, you get to enjoy your hobby and give a gift with the same dollars.

From our earnings we have X$ going to retirement savings plans, x$ to pay for expenses/bills, X$ for food/entertainment, some goes to charity and some goes to quilting and DH's interests. I do not set a fixed limit on what I buy. When money is tight then I cut way back and with all the stuff I do have, I keep myself in stitches for a while without spending any additional money. If I were to look at every receipt and had to justify to myself why I bought it or chastise myself for spending that money, I think I would start visiting the liquor store instead. My hobby is my sanity - it gives me joy. The books on cost will never balance and they don't need to.

I too don't really have a set budget. I buy when I need something and usually with a coupon. If I don't have something, I usually check with my aunt or a dear friend who have also been sewing and quilting for years and have always offered stash or to borrow notions or patterns.

I would be afraid to calculate.. I leave that to hubby.. But im sure it would be close to a new car... If i knew for sure I think id lose interest as the thought of the $ would be burning in my brain.. With that said- I hardly ever, and probably could say that I dont ever buy full price.. I use a coupon, buy sale ,clearance, and discontinued fabs.. Plus I wait till the shop hops to buy as well as they give you 25% off their fabs..

Anyway, If hubby isnt complaining, then why should I?

how expensive is a phyciatrist or therapy? It's my therapy and I make what I'm asked for and give to local charities and hospitals. keep ALL scrap's! use any and all coupons and sales. It's nearly perfect for someone housebound like me!! Angry? rip an old sheet apart for a rag rug. Don't want to think about sad things? Pick a complicated pattern up and start the math! Bad day and hurting? crazy scrap time or leftover strip quilt. really bad day? crayons and paper! design your own possibilities.

Sue...think of it this way....it is cheaper, by far than therapy!