How are you paying for the 50% increase in natural gas this winter?

**SHOPGIRL** · 09-28-2005, 06:28 PM

Natural gas prices are suppose to rise 50% this winter. There is only so much we can do to reduce our heat consumption. So, where is the money coming from to finance the higher heat costs? Are you going to reduce consumption in food, clothes. . . Or, are you going to just try to make more supplemental income?

Cold weather is coming. . .at least for those of us north of the Mason-Dixon line.

**homesteadmamma** · 09-28-2005, 06:39 PM

I just heard the same thing on the radio station (Minot, ND). We are in the same boat.

First, were doing everything we can to cut down our heating expenses. Next, we will budget a specific amount by looking at last year's bills and then adding the amount our gas will be going up. It means cutting back on other things, such as our electric bill, our travelling and little extras we buy during the winter months.

Hopefully though, we can keep it at the same level as last year by cutting back on our temps and finding new ways to cut down the heating costs.

**FreesiaE** · 09-29-2005, 09:30 AM

I hate being cold, so this one really hits home for me! I've been trying to think about what I'm going to do. So, far I have

1. Turn down the heat, especially while we are both at work (obvious, but important)
2. Go through closet/drawers. Is there some pair of pants, some shirt, etc. that I have forgotten about and can wear again this year? (thus saving me from buying new clothes)
3. I have a lot of extra blankets. Time to use them not only on our bed, but while watching TV
4. Keep busy with decluttering--thinking about holding a yard sale this spring/summer--start making boxes in the basement (which thanks to the boiler is the warmest room in the house

)
5. Workout more! I'll warm up and whittle down!
6. Visit the library on Sunday afternoons
7. Hang out with my FV friends--they always give me the warm fuzzies

I'd love to hear what others will be doing.

**PrairieRose** · 09-29-2005, 04:01 PM

We're expecting it here too so our plans, even though Gripey may not be aware of it just yet are:

We'll be layering clothing a lot more
The heat will stay at about 60-ish (hopefully)
We'll be using plastic on a couple of really drafty windows
We're going to purchase a couple of heating pads to keep on us under a quilt while we're watching tv, that will help keep the heat down
We have a couple of electric heaters that we'll be using near us instead of heating the whole house
Loads of blankets and flannel sheets on the beds
Maybe an electric blanket for our bed, we don't currently have one
Using the fireplace more when we're in the living room in the evenings especially
And we'll be staying home more, spending less on travel and entertainment and eating out.

**mom22grls** · 09-29-2005, 04:14 PM

Last year I had a little one, so it was much warmer in the house than usual. This year, I'll go back to my old ways & wear more clothes to keep warm. Miss K will be 2, so she's not so little anymore.

Last night it got down to 34 F , and we never had to turn on the heat...my house was 60 F when we woke up. Not too bad.

Besides that, we'll be eating out less.....which I've been wanting to do anyway...I'm getting FAT!

Or maybe....FAT-ER! LOL! I need to quit being a lazy bum.

**YankeeMom** · 09-29-2005, 04:42 PM

I have already laid out blankets on the furniture for snuggling with when it gets cooler. I plan on keeping the thermostat below 65* and using the woodstove more than we did last year.
We are also closing vents to rooms when they are not in use, like the playroom (during the day when the kids are at school) and the guest room.

**Dedlered** · 09-29-2005, 04:54 PM

We pay our gas on a budget bill so I have a large credit for now. I will supplement that by closing vents, lowering the thermostat and lots of blankets

**SHOPGIRL** · 09-29-2005, 05:09 PM

We have one space heater that my dh uses down in the basement, but I'm thinking of getting another. I just want to make sure its energy efficient.

Also, if we eat at home, oven-cooked meals, that will warm up my kitchen and living room.

Usually, I have the temp at 68-70 degrees. I'm going to try to keep it at 65 and see if that's comfortable.

I was also thinking that if the house was cooler, it might motivate me to walk on the treadmill vs. sit on the couch when I'm watching t.v. Saving money while losing weight...that could be a good thing.

**YankeeMom** · 09-29-2005, 05:17 PM

[i]

Also, if we eat at home, oven-cooked meals, that will warm up my kitchen and living room.

[/B]

That reminded me of another thing I plan on doing...Our stove is gas ($$$) so I'll be using the crockpot & microwave alot and even the woodstove to keep things hot if I need to.

**guest000** · 09-29-2005, 08:13 PM

Our plan is to keep the thermostat at 68-72 (the highest temp applying in the mornings when it's very chilly).

We also plan to wear more clothing around the house. There is a coat closet downstairs in the foyer that has lots of blankets in it to grab while we're hanging out in the family room. There are also some blankets in the playroom and the basement. I just bought some footed pj's for the boys on Ebay a couple days ago.

We're also planning to put plastic over some of the windows. We don't have any terribly drafty windows, but every little bit helps, ya know?

I wish I had a fireplace now, but we opted not to get it. Now, I'd strangle someone for a fireplace.

**SHOPGIRL** · 09-29-2005, 11:06 PM

Tonight I had to bake brownies for work tomorrow. I made four batches and cooked them two at a time so I had the oven on for about 80 minutes. The temp in the house before I started cooking was 68 degrees. When I was cooking, it went up to 70 degrees and the last time I checked, the temp was at 72 so it really did help to use the oven. I used the top of the stove to steam broccoli, but the rest of the meal was done on the grill. When I was done cooking, I opened up the door to let the heat escape. Even though I used gas for the stove, it did help warm up the house.

**HandyMom** · 09-30-2005, 07:37 AM

I'm going to hunt down my electric blanket and buy another one for DD's bed. I may even get a spare one for the sofa so we can feel comfortable while watching tv instead of turning up the thermostat.

I can stand it being 60-ish temperature wise in the house all day but at night I can't fall asleep if my feet are cold and I can't stand to sleep with socks on my feet.

I may also be looking around for a electric space heater.

I don't know if I want to do any extra baking with my stove since my oven is GAS and that is what is going up in cost.

I will use my toaster oven more, ask for a rotisserie for Christmas and try and use my microwave a lot more. I might also dig out that old bread machine and use it more, too.

One thing I don't like about leaving the heat on 60-65 is that I get used to that coolness and then I can't stand the hot weather when it comes and I end up using my a/c more.

**pammy** · 09-30-2005, 09:44 AM

Nothing.

Last year when my hubby was digging for the cement to be poured for his shop we had the utilities marked, but they couldn't find the gas line. You guessed it, he hit it. We were then told by the gas company that we couldn't have the gas line under a shop building anyway. We were told we would have to hire a plumber to redirect our gas lines from our cemented patio to another area of our house, then the gas company can dig new lines and have one of those "nice looking" gas meters sitting by the road next to our house. No thanks. So we just decided to go all electric. We did have to change our gas water heater to electric. Other than that, it was just buying electric heat for the house. Our big room has the living room, dining area and kitchen, all open. We bought and installed one of those ceiling fans that has a heater in it and it sure helped circulate the heat. The fireplace has electric blowers. We also purchased some electric radiators. Our electric bill did go up, of course. But we didn't have a gas bill. We are next looking into buying a heat pump for our central heat system. Not this winter, maybe the next when I can pay cash for it, of course.

I guess him hitting that line did have a silver lining, just didn't know it.

**Early Bird** · 09-30-2005, 10:41 AM

Welll, a few things:

We hauled home 3 trailer loads (8 x 10 trailer) of logs that we will use in the fireplaces. DH has begun the work of splitting them.

This house has 2 fireplaces; plus a wood stove in the rec room. [We'll have to clear out the wood stove area if we're going to use it. The rec room is full of tools and craft stuff.]

We have electric mattress pads on all the beds. I turn mine to 'High' about 10 minutes before I crawl into bed. Read for 15 minutes in bed, then turn it off for the night. Most nights, I don't need to turn it back on.

DH turns his to 'Low' and keeps it on all night. I think the kids turn theirs to 'medium' for the night.

I'm training the kids to dress warmly in the house. Yesterday afternoon, dd put on a spaghetti-strap top. Well, it was 65 degrees, so she DID put on a sweater after a while.

And we have lap blankets for when we're sitting around in the evening.

**jlxian** · 09-30-2005, 10:47 AM

We heat mostly with wood -- and our furnace, kitchen stove, and hot water heater are propane fired. We filled the propane tank in May so hope we don't have to fill again until late winter. I'll try to stash some $$ away each month until then to help pay for a refill. In the winter we keep the thermostat on the furnace set below 60 so it only comes on during really cold spells. Our house is old, drafty, and has some VERY cold areas.

Those little electric space heaters are very helpful. We use one in the kitchen to huddle in front of when we are getting ready for school/work. And one in the bathroom can make it bearable to strip off your clothes before a shower/bath.

I also take a hot water bottle to bed and my kids each have their own small bottles. These things can really take the chill off a cold bed --- I JUST HATE getting into a freezing cold bed! It takes me forever to get warm enough to go to sleep, but the hot water bottles make it a lot better.

We use a timer for the kids' showers --- they get 10 minutes and no more. DD could spend an hour in there if we let her.

In the kitchen I'm not using the oven unless I have to and using the crockpot more and microwave a lot. I'm thinking of getting a toaster oven. I also put lids on all pots cooking on the stovetop and turn down the heat once a pot begins to boil.