hi trippledubs, so your answer is because Your Mother mother said so? This is the sequence

OP: I have question ... short code
A: you should use strict

Why should the OP use strict?

There are no errors in OPs posted code that strict would catch, talking about strict is a distraction ... adding use strict; causes the OPs program to die with errors and will not help him solve any problem in the posted code

Adding "use strict;" without any elaboration is the easiest type of comment/reply to make to any perl programming question, and it usually just makes the OPs program die ... and the OPs usually not ready to understand how to benefit from strict

Is strict useful? Yes, I used it here cause I always use it

Useful to the OP? I doubt it

Adding "use strict;" without any elaboration is the easiest type of comment/reply to make to any perl programming question, and it usually just makes the OPs program die

You seem to have missed that the node in question answers the OP's problem and contains a link to Use strict and warnings.

To always use strict is good advice the same way that to always look both ways when crossing a street is good advice, even when it's a one way street: because it's a good habit to get into. And it might save you some pain someday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Lm9TPym9A4