What is the Value of an Old, Torn Coat?

My good friend Bernard and I are out at the tip dropping off the second load of rotted timber. Bernard drives about twenty feet then utters a mild curse, puts the truck in park, hops out, walks five feet away and starts getting undressed.

Once his coat is off he tosses it onto the ground; the muddy ground, then hops back into the truck.

What's going on? Bernard explains that his warm winter jacket has a big tear in it. He was cursing because he meant to toss it into the tip, but leaving it lying on the ground is just as good.

Stop! I want that coat!

No way; it's ripped; it looks awful; you don't wanna wear it.

I want it!  You serious? Yep. Bernard gets out of the truck, grabs the coat, tosses it into the truck.

On the way home I explain about my hot-box , and when we get home I start pulling out of the cardboard carton, my bits of old clothing, including thin dress shirts, bed sheets and so on.

Bernard's old coat with its insulating layers can replace flimsy bed sheets and dress shirts.

Here is my arithmetic:-

With better insulating material I will be more inclined to make more use of my hot box.

In particular I will be inclined to make TWO casseroles of braised lamb chops at one time and put the TWO casseroles in the hot box, confident that their shared heat will last longer.

Now if it takes me ten minutes to dice the onion, make the cornflower sauces and so on for one casserole, it will take me the same time to make up TWO casseroles.

A more efficient hotbox saves me ten minutes for every other casserole.

What is your hourly rate? Suppose $30 per hour. Ten minutes represents five dollars.

From now on every time I double up on casseroles, stews, soups and so on, I save five dollars.

After twenty casseroles I have a coat that is worth One Hundred Dollars.

After forty casseroles I have a coat that is worth TWO Hundred Dollars.

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