Hi and welcome! {gentle hug}!

If on a limited budget, I would try to have a pattern when shopping for fabric & try sticking to what's on sale - especially for the parts of the pattern that require larger amounts of fabric.

I started my stash by shopping at thrift shops and yard sales. I too have limited income. I also have a walmart that still carries fabric on the bolt and when they have a clearance I buy what I can. I also buy from others on the board, they generally sell fabric I can't get around and the shipping is cheaper.

Most of mine came from LOs from other projects.

I started out making totes. Sold quite a few....and had a lot of stash leftover. So decided to make some scrappy quilts.....yeah right...I now have MORE stash than when I started!!!!!!!!!! I'm a quilt-a-holic and proud of it!

I don't know if I saw it ( this is the first time on this site.) What would you'all suggest a good basic amount to buy for stash? What criteria do you use? I mostly use one yard as my guide, but if I need more for something,I'm out of luck. I got some Ideas from your posts, any more ideas, I'd love to hear. Thanks

because i buy at joanns or hobby lobby..and use a
coupon. i rarely buy less than 2 yards..if i don't have a project in mind, and i have a 50% off coupon, i buy what i use most, White on white usually. or a solid in a color. usually Kona cotton.

Thanks for all the great ideas. i feel I have a lot of ways to go and a lot of choices. I really appreciate all of you!

Thanks for the ideas everyone! I really appreciate it!

Don't forget the library for quilting books to borrow to get ideas on what you like. Then, if you see it or something by an author you like on sale or at a sale somewhere, you'll have an idea of what you like! Also what 'tools' to look for.