Note: I submit my columns to my editor several weeks ahead of publication, and the incident described by my reader occurred in Colorado in December 2020. It’s an unfortunate circumstance that this column ran just a few days before the Texas disaster, and my writing about the heat issue, and referring to loss of heat being a concern in “four season states” a few weeks before it happened, was also somewhat narrow-minded on my part.
Clearly, loss of heat can unexpectedly become a concern in every climate, not just in those that regularly experience all four seasons. One week after this column ran, snow covered 73% of the continental USA and was wreaking havoc in many typically-warmer states. We should all be mindful of the kinds of at-home preparations we can maintain for unforeseen circumstances.
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My syndicated Super-Couponing Tips column for the week is entitled “A mindset of preparedness.“
Here’s an excerpt:
“If the events of 2020 taught us anything, it’s to be prepared for the unexpected. No one wants to lose heat in a four-season climate during the winter, so here are a few alternate heating sources to consider. If your home already has a fireplace or wood stove, keeping a supply of dry firewood on hand is important. A wood or pellet stove is an even better option, as most of the heat generated will stay in the home versus going up the chimney.”
Read this entire column at the the Northwest Indiana Times.
My Super-Couponing Tips column appears in newspapers around the country to a weekly readership of over 20 million people! Learn more about my column’s syndication at this link.
Miss a column? Here’s an archive of all of my past columns I’ve shared on the blog.
wolverine70 says
Not sure you’re being fair to yourself in considering the column narrow minded. The advice is sage and will be appreciated by the papers that (wisely) carry your column in Texas and Oklahoma.
Coupon Maven says
Thanks – I wrote that because I’ve had several readers email to say that they thought it was insensitive. I really thought I was writing it a little too -late- after the fact (after the Colorado situation back in December) but I had no idea it was going to run a week before the Texas disaster. :(