Dear Sun Spots: We just paid $162.9 for No. 2 heating oil in Oxford. We want to prebuy oil for next winter. Since oil companies say they have to order and pay for it immediately, why aren’t they offering this while the price is reasonable? Does anyone know of a company doing this around Oxford? – No Name, No Town.

Answer: When you prebuy, the cost of oil is not based on the daily price of oil, which reflects what you recently paid. The price is based on the price a company gets from its supplier, so it will be higher than the daily price.

The companies that we spoke with explained that the amount a dealer prebuys varies; they have to be sure they can resell the oil in a timely manner and must be confident that there is enough demand for their oil.

While prebuys are traditionally purchased in the summer for delivery in the winter, some companies are offering budget plans now to lock in a certain price. But again, it will be higher than the daily price you pay for a one-time delivery. There are many different oil companies in the Oxford area, Sun Spots recommends calling them to see what they are offering at the moment.

Dear Sun Spots: I have a very dear friend who lost her home and everything she owned due to a house fire today. She is not working and her husband is laid off from his job. They have three children. They escaped with just their clothes on their back. They had no renters insurance. I am looking for any donations for this family. They are in desperate need of clothes, money or gift certificates to purchase clothes, food, diapers, etc.

Here is a short list: little boys size 24 months, size 6 shoe toddlers, size 4 diapers; women’s pants size 10 stretch jeans, medium or large shirts, shoe size 9; men’s sizes 30- by 32-inch jeans, 32- by 34-inch jeans and boys size 16 jeans and all three wear medium and large shirts. Shoe sizes in men’s are 9, 12 and 13. If any Sun Spot readers would like to donate to this family please call me at 639-2279. Thank you. – Sue White, Phillips Maine.