I can afford aspen. I choose to use paper towels because they're cheap. I can also afford a $500 vet bill, but no way in hell I'd rack one up (not for the snake anyway). Since I can afford the things you mention, just choose not to incur the expense, should I be able to keep my pets?
And you're already communicating on a fifth grade level, at best. Rather than dumb it down for us, maybe try to bring it up to somewhere around 9th or 10th grade?