Here's a food one for you all. I have free gas and still cut about 5 cords a year. Why? Cause I love me some wood heat and chainsaws.
Reminds me of a story a retired game warden at my lodge told us it's long but pretty funny story if you guys would like to hear it I'll post it You may get a good laugh out of it
I've found that most of my friends don't have the drive for heating with wood. Some are on gas and others on oil. I have suggested many times but they see all the work and don't get it. Heck I still run has in my leaky old house but have very low gas bills bc of the wood stove. And you simply can't beat the warmth of wood heat.
Dang, $4K a year for heating? I'm "biting the bullet" to top off my propane tank for $400 next week. I should be good for the next 4 yrs. or so after that. Wood heat... aww yeahh!
"It's not a lot of work if you're used to doing a little bit of work" THAT'S the truth. I'm not out there trying to kill myself. Heck, I'm doing this for pleasure as much as anything else! Plus, I call pop's woods "church ". Just sitting out there on a fencerow watching the sun come up in deer season got me through some tough times. To be able to go out, cut a little wood, play with my saw, and be in one of my favorite places is a privelege, not a chore.
Processing and burning wood is enjoyable, saving money and sticking it to the man is also very enjoyable, my gas bill is never higher than 20 bucks a month for hot water When the chit hits the fan and there's no electricity/ power in the middle of the winter I don't have to abandon my house, I stay warm, cook my food in read a book by the fire light. Burning wood is a lifestyle and if I do not have time to play xbox I don't give a flying frick. Fact is I can't play video games anymore anyway because of arthritis in my hands, but I can still manage to process firewood
The older we get the smarter we get when I was in my late early 30's we lived in a snobby neighborhood (because of the school system) while raising the children burned natural gas, had a fireplace with an insert bought my firewood paid the guy extra to stack it and didn't worry about costs. Today with just the wife and I there is time for me to go to the church. The Church as I will refer to working with firewood does so much for my mind and body. There are days it's like I bust my azz to get a cord finished even going as far as timing myself and then the days of as if in slow motion thinking and pondering life itself. I won't judge you if you want to play a video game so don't judge me. One man's pleasure is another's torment.
I would cut wood even if I didn't burn it because I enjoy being out in the woods, and the work involved. I think of it kind of like church also, especially if I'm out there alone. Although lately I've been taking my son with me and that's a different kind of church I suppose. We have gas heat but have not used it all winter. We only use the gas for the kitchen stove. I am glad more people do not cut wood, I don't like hearing a bunch of other saws when I'm out, I like to be just me, or just me and my son. Plus it's more wood for me! I like cutting wood for the same reason I like gardening, it puts me in touch with the seasons, I'm outdoors, and it's good honest work.
It is a bit of work or for some it is a bit of play. It depends upon how you view it. But I know if we heated with gas or oil, I would not be comfortable in the cooler and colder months of the year. By heating with wood, I can keep the house at any temperature that will keep us comfortable. Usually that means around 80 degrees but believe it or not, some days we get it much warmer than that. But we never worry about too much money to heat our home!
Have a hard look at that $4000 heating bill. That is all after tax money. Now look at what it takes to get there. You have federal income tax at who knows how much but a typical value is 20%, then you have state income taxes at about 5% to 20% depending on which state. We're not done yet. You still need to pay that almost 7% of social security and medicare taxes and so does your employer. Add it up and I get over 40% in typical taxes on my income. Add in a sales tax on the purchase using that after tax money if you figure another 7% for that tax so the $4000 is really $4280 of after tax money and where are you? Now do the numbers for that skeptic. What did he have to earn to pay that bill? $4280 x 100/60= $7133. That is what you earn for the work you do to avoid that bill. It is nothing to sneeze at. I will be happy to pay a one time charge of over $500 to get the tool I need to make that money every year.
I just get p o when I get flamed for buying a saw or most recently another splitter<old splitter didn't go vertical and set real low was a back breaker. But you can't reason with some people no matter how much it makes sense to you in their eyes it will always be stupid
Great responses. I'll tell ya that I have stayed in good shape this winter hauling wood for me and neighbors. Not to mention the snow removal and various ice breaking labor. At the end of the day, soaked in sweat, 0 deg temps, shivers...its beyond satisfying sitting by my woodstove!
I get p o anyone someone tries to tell me how to spend my money. Respect my choices and I will do the same.
