Buy what you can afford and enjoy quilting. Quilting can get expensive but if take it in strides you can do at your budget. To build up and see what you like I would recommend a fat quarter club. They are under 20 dollars a month you can choose a mix of manufacturers or just one. everything goes together and will help you see selection, color values and build your stash at the same time. Other will say it's a waste of money but when I started I found it intimidating to see all the bolts and I liked this and that but when you get to the register and buy yards it's shocking and your emotions are everywhere. So I started small and now I only buy yardage with a project in mind I search out the clearance first then I shop around to see who has the cheapest on that particular fabric. I did fall in love with some fabric when I went to a quilt store here and I paid 11.25 a yard for those but I had to have them I can't explain it and the price didn't bother me at all. The DH was paying so that might have helped me a little lol!