"A stitch in time saves nine"

Click to see Vol. I, Issue 9 of the newsletter in which this article first appeared.

Proverb: "A stitch in time saves nine"

• This saying was popularized by Benjamin Franklin in his Poor Richard's Almanac, but it was known before that.

Meaning: If you see a potential problem and solve it before it grows, you'll prevent it from becoming a big problem later.

• Literally, it means that one stitch done soon enough prevents having to make nine stitches later.

Mini-Dialogue: Wayne sees his friend Lillian looking around on the floor.

Lillian: Darn it!
Wayne: What happened, Lil?
Lillian: Oh, I just lost a button.
Wayne: That's too bad.
Lillian: Yeah, I knew it was just hanging by a thread. If only I'd done something about it sooner...
Wayne: I know. "A stitch in time saves nine," right?
Lillian: Exactly.

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QUESTION:

1. In which situation would someone use the proverb, "A stitch in time saves nine"? The correct answer is in the first comment below.
   A. Miriam planted a vegetable garden and now she doesn't have to go to the market as often.
   B. Marlin invested wisely when he was younger, and now he's able to retire early.
   C. You put off painting your house; now the wood will need a lot of repair work before it can be painted again.