At this time of year for many of us the weather has been biting cold! This in addition to the weak economy leaves some unable to heat their home. This can be very dangerous, especially for the elderly. I am very sympathetic to their plight, except in the following case. Let's go to the link! http://tinyurl.com/2688mch
Did you watch the video? Did you notice something? Now I don't know these people but while Ruth cannot afford to fix her home heater, she is smoking a cigarette! You know, there is a good chance that was her first cigarette in ages, bummed off one of the news guys interviewing her, right? However, if Ruth is buying her cigarettes, she needs to get her priorities straight! A pack of cigarettes may cost about $20 so depending on how much you smoke the cost adds up. At the very least, Ruth has committed a marketing error. She is going to seek help at the Salvation Army, but everyone who watched the video will notice her smoking and come to the same assumptions I have.
What else did you notice? They have a wood stove! The reporter says "but wood costs money". This is only true to a certain extent. There is a lot of free wood to be had, IF you plan ahead. They knew at least a month ago, probably more, that their house had a wood stove. They most likely had some awareness of their financial situation, even if they tried to ignore it. There are a lot of places to get free wood, Craigslist for example. Yes you probably will have to split it yourself (buy a splitter maul with your saved cigarette money) and some may not be seasoned. Then again, why plan ahead when you can get someone to bail you out?
I hope these people do not freeze and find some way to stay warm. But my people* have a saying...
"Give a man some firewood and he will be warm for a day. Teach a man how to split wood and he will be warm for life."
*apparently "my people" are lumberjacks.
