Im glad you got my TV analogy? So your saying dont worry about getting a thermostat until you can afford a good one? This isnt about what you would do... its giving the OP the best advice for their situation... Who knows maybe itll take them 3-4 weeks to get enough money to buy a helix... is their snake supposed to just suffer until then?

Again I use both a repti500 and a Herp pro... only difference is a herp pro doesnt have such a big temp swing... other than that they both have the same effect on the "well being" of my animals.