I live in Texas. While my house was being built, I spent 8 months in an apartment complex to save money (it was just before housing prices and rent skyrocketed

I live in Texas. While my house was being built, I spent 8 months in an apartment complex to save money (it was just before housing prices and rent skyrocketed across the nation) and I gained a whole new appreciation and perspective over what "paycheck to paycheck" meant for people. I always assumed it meant they got what I thought were necessities but had no spare money. It was eye opening making friends in that apartment complex because month to month for them meant they often went a paycheck with something otherwise critical deferred to another paycheck. They were mastercraftsmen in robbing peter to pay paul, so to speak. I understand your sentiment of investing in some life saving gear that is cheap for its great value. But I would encourage you to widen your perspective and understand that when faced with the decision to pay for groceries and car insurance to ensure one can keep working, or put back money for a gas generator for something used every 4 years, they're going to pick no interruption to groceries and car insurance. And rightly so. If you're of the type that promotes larger government, you need to write to your government to encourage them to provide this equipment out of their taxes. If you're of the type that promotes less government, you need to write to your government to encourage them to tax less and/or provide tangible tax breaks for this equipment a la solar.