How has knitting affected my shopping habits?

I saw a topic over at Knitter's Review the other day that said, "How knitting has changed my shopping" or something to that effect. I started thinking about it and my shopping habits have changed. I am more aware of what things are made of and the costs associated with them.

Example: I was shopping with my sister at Ralph Lauren. They had tons of beautiful sweaters--cashemere for close to $200 (which I find to be about right). They also had some very nice cabled pullovers. I looked at the price-$70. I looked at the label-acrylic! Now I don't mind acrylic--it can be washed at home, some hold up very well. But I know that I can make a very nice sweater in an acrylic and wool blend for much less than $70. I realize most of that cost was the "label", but seriously folks! I find it is a little harder for me to part with my money on something like that.

There is a flip side, too. I was at Gap and they had wool, acrylic, cashemere, angora blend cardigans for $14. Um, I bought two. I could never make something in those fibers for $14.

Maybe I am a little bit more fiber saavy?