electric bill is OMG

[ladytoysdream]

my house is 3200 square feet
2 rooms are used and no heat or electric
...I keep the upstairs on 70
and the down on 70 grandma like it on 73
.all the drafts down stairs are sealed up with plastic and
up stairs does not have plastic.
the stove is electric she made about 3 dozen cakes to give to people for gifts.out side light she refused to turn off.
she decorated and lit up the whole down stairs..
I had a tree that was lit from 7 -10 and then un plugged.
hot water heater is electric
and the furnace blowers.
gas bill /water sewage trash 226.

You got me confused here.
Is the upstairs a separate like household ?
If yes, and then Gramma lives downstairs ?

Christmas lights are a big draw on electric.

[oheoh's momma]

we have 2 separate living spaces with our own living room each and bathrooms each. The common space is the kitchen and laundry...she lit up her area 24/7. grr it will be ok. It will get paid I can just think of so many other things.... and I do are about her but thank goodness we each have our space....

[alotofgooddeals]

just wondering or does she pay her own bills etc....this might help with some of her expenses...

[oheoh's momma]

no we pay bills and she pays the house rent.... her rent is 725 our bills are about 1000 dollars this month that is just electric gas and cable

[ladytoysdream]

I was thinking about separate electric meters for each living area..up and down....but if you share kitchen and laundry, then that won't work in your case.

Have you thought about getting one of those kill a watt meters ? Sometimes even a library loans them out. You plug into your appliances and see what is drawing what, for electric usage. You may have a appliance that needs replacing and or less usage of.

We know a lady who lives in the basement of her son's house. She pays them $ 500 a month for her rent. That includes her utilies. She also babysits for them if need be. It works out good for all of them.

[oheoh's momma]

hadn't thought about the meter thing uhm something to think about.

[bunnys]

Have you thought about switching the bills/rent? I bet if she paid the bills and you paid the rent she'd have the incentive to keep the bills down.

I'd say, "let's switch. However low you keep the bills it doesn't matter you can keep the difference you save."

I would think she'd jump at a chance like that.

Sounds like she may be working to keep the bills high because she resents paying rent? Just a thought.

[oheoh's momma]

maybe it is a though, she never has enough money and we are always helping her which I wouldn't mind if she be frugal she never has.uhm.

[ladytoysdream]

Not sure how long Gramma has been living with you.
So can you compare your electric bill from a year ago to this one ?
Was Gramma living with you a year ago ?
Have you had any price increases on utilies ?

[oheoh's momma]

no we moved her in Feb of last year we have been here 11 months nothing grandma just refuses to listen to anything...she has always been wasteful with money, electric, water, everything...she use to be rich and never forgot....don't understand her at all.