Same here.. also some of them say "I don't care how much they cost".. And yes.. Some are facing difficult times, we need to be thankful if we are hangin' in there.. I agree with your analogy to vehicles. I have never had a new one, or a payment. I think the money I have saved over the years in interest, insurance, taxes alone, has paid for the DF pellets, for the rest of my life.. As for the shortage and/or price spike, I think given the fires, transportation, exchange rate, it is inevitable. They have already gone up here.. They ain't comin' down. Dan