you can save up for a thermostat and use the dimmer until then but if you do not monitor your temps on the warm hide your snake could be in for a horrible fate.anything over 100 can cook the insides of your snake.is this a hard lesson you want to learn? you will never be able to get the temps stable w/o a good probed thermometer.i wish you and your snake good luck!i hope its got the smarts and awareness to get out of the heat if it needs to.once again good luck and dont ask me for help if you cant gather a few dollars for a vital peice of equiptment