In the early hours of July 8, 2024, Hurricane Beryl barreled through our town (see what I did there?).
As a child, my anxiety levels surrounding hurricanes stood at zero. My parents never overreacted about hurricanes, and their peace of mind was my peace of mind. If only my own children could have this same experience.
These days, my anxiety level surrounding hurricanes has increased significantly.
Maybe it’s because I was diagnosed with general anxiety. Maybe it’s because I’m fully aware of the damage a hurricane can leave behind. Or maybe it’s because I’m a homeowner living in a post-Hurricane Harvey world.
Whatever the reason, I was a little worried about Hurricane Beryl heading our way, even though it was “only a category 1.” I found myself constantly checking hurricane updates. And because of that, I was prepared (or so I thought). We had our flashlights ready, our bathtub was filled with water, and we even had several battery packs charged just in case.
My dad offered to let us borrow a generator. I figured we wouldn’t need it because, Hello! This is only a category 1 hurricane! Don’t overreact, Allison.
So, there I was early Monday morning lying in bed as Beryl swept in. The sky illuminated as a nearby transformer blew. Then, it went pitch black. The hurricane moved directly over our home. It was terrifying, yet I was drawn to the scene of my trees swaying in the wind, bending in a way I didn’t know was possible.
Shortly after experiencing the worst of the storm, we entered the eye of the hurricane. The trees stilled, the rain stopped, and everything went silent. I guess I can add “be in the eye of a hurricane” to my list of life experiences. Although, I don’t recommend it.
The Aftermath
Fortunately, Hurricane Beryl didn’t stick around. By the afternoon, the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and people were dealing with the aftermath. Large branches were down, trees were uprooted, but for the most part, the damage wasn’t too bad. I breathed a sigh of relief.
We had made it through. Everyone was okay.
And yet…we still didn’t have electricity. We borrowed a small generator from my parents that allowed us to run our fridge, charge devices, and plug in a small fan.
The lack of air conditioning, as it turns out, was the thing that would ultimately drive me insane. Our house sat at a not-so-cool 85-90 degrees. I’d take a cold shower, towel off, and start sweating again in an instant. The humidity was oppressive and didn’t make it better.
If you think I’m complaining, it’s because I am. Eighty hours later, as I write this, we still don’t have power. We don’t even have a timeline for when our power will be restored.
All of this will hopefully help you understand where I am now: exhausted, overheated, emotional, and ready to throw money at the situation.
Desperate, I started researching the options. I wanted to know what I could do for immediate relief. More importantly, I wanted to know what I could do in the future if this ever happened again.
Ultimately, I have three options.
Option 1: Abandon Ship.
We could pack up and leave town. This meant staying with family or friends who had room for all four of us plus a dog and a cat. Unfortunately, we had to stay in Houston because my husband had an 8 AM commitment each day.
If we didn’t have a free place to evacuate, we would have been left to shell out hundreds each night to stay somewhere, all the while not knowing how long we would be away from home. Assuming we were paying for lodging as well as meals, we’d be out at least over $1,000.
I don’t know about you, but most people I know don’t want to drop an extra $1,000 or more to take an unplanned vacation. Not to mention this option isn’t available for those who were required to still report to work, like my mom, who works in a dialysis clinic.
Option 2: The $14,000 Solution.
Our second option was to pay tens of thousands to have a whole home generator installed. While this wouldn’t fix our current situation, installing a whole home generator would give us the ability to run our air conditioning, lights, and live like normal when natural disasters hit.
The downside? This type of generator would cost over $14,000 to purchase and install. On top of that, you’d have to pay a $400-$500 yearly maintenance fee. As the days wore on and my antiperspirant deodorant did nothing to keep me fresh, I started to seriously consider this as a viable option for the future.
So, we don’t have $14,000 lying around for this type of luxury. I’m miserable!
Who cares that we may not use it in the next five years? It’s freaking hot in here!
I was ready. Sign me up. Let’s finance this sucker!
But then I found myself reading the reviews and comments from others who went this route. Some people who had invested in these generators still found themselves without power. The whole house generator would work for a few hours then…nothing. To make matters even worse, the support number they were given was disconnected. These homeowners were left in the dark after shelling out thousands of dollars for something that didn’t do the one thing it was supposed to do.
I crossed “get a whole house generator” off the list.
Option 3: The Band-Aid.
I’m calling the third and final option the Band-aid because while it doesn’t offer a full solution, it does offer a little relief. After more research and talking with other neighbors who were suffering alongside me, I learned that you can purchase a strong generator and then have an electrician add a soft start to your air conditioner.
This allows you to spend about $2,000-$3,000 on a generator that has the ability to run your air conditioner without being a whole home solution. While this solution wouldn’t power an entire home like a whole home generator, it would give us what I needed most: air conditioning.
Financial Crossroads
Obviously, I’m aware that I could continue on just as I have been. Borrow a generator from my dad, deal with the heat, and wait for the electricity gods to smile down upon us. However, I’m kind of an emotional mess right now. And when I’m an emotional mess, my reasoning typically goes right out the window…and so does my money.
As someone who prides herself on being in control of impulse spending and teaching others to manage their finances wisely, I find myself at a perplexing crossroads. Here I am, the financial educator, tempted to make a significant impulse purchase simply because I’m uncomfortable and desperate for relief.
Which makes me wonder: at what point is spending money on a solution considered impulsive? Am I overreacting? Is dropping thousands on the comfort of air conditioning while enduring 100+ degree heat justified? How on earth am I supposed to make what feels like such a big decision for a situation that may or may not present itself again?
On one hand, I preach the importance of being prepared, of having an emergency fund, and of making thoughtful, considered financial decisions. On the other hand, the reality of our situation – sweltering heat, restless children, and the strain on our sanity – makes the idea of immediate comfort incredibly appealing.
I feel like I’m standing at a financial fork in the road. One path leads to sticking it out, enduring the discomfort, and hoping this never happens again. The other path, however, is lit up with neon signs promising relief at a steep cost.
This is more than just a financial decision; it’s a test of my sanity and self-control. It’s easy to advise others to avoid impulse spending when you’re not the one in the thick of discomfort. But when you’re faced with the temptation to solve your problems with a swipe of a credit card, those principles are put to the ultimate test.
The practical side of me knows that spending thousands of dollars on a strong generator might not be the wisest decision, especially when I can borrow one from family. It’s a significant investment for a comfort that may not be necessary in the future. But the emotional side of me, the side that’s hot, tired, and frustrated, is shouting that it’s worth every penny.
So here I am, caught between my logical mind and my emotional heart. The financial educator in me knows what the right choice is. The ROI is clear. Why spend thousands on something that may or may not be used in the future? Is it really necessary? Yet, the human being in me is struggling to hold firm to those choices under the weight of current circumstances.
This experience has reminded me that financial decisions are often more emotional than we’d like to admit. It’s one thing to talk about managing impulse spending in theory, but it’s another to practice it when you’re pushed to your limits.
Seeking Balance
Ultimately, this situation has shone a light on the importance of seeking balance in financial decisions. It’s not just about avoiding impulse spending, but also about recognizing when an investment in comfort and sanity might actually be worth it. Finding that balance is the real challenge, and it’s one I’m navigating in real-time, just like everyone else.
Will we drop $14,000+ for a whole home generator? Not likely.
Will we drop $2,000+ for a generator and soft-start system that can power our AC in times like this? I don’t know.
Will I continue to cross my fingers and hope against hope that Centerpoint Energy will put the infrastructure in place so this doesn’t happen again? That’s a no for me, dawg.
I’m not sure what we’ll end up doing. But for now, I’ll wait patiently for our lights to come back on and find solace in the fact that we’ve weathered the storm alongside others. In the meantime, I’ll continue to weigh my options, striving for that elusive balance between practicality and comfort. Because sometimes, peace of mind is worth every penny.
