What are you doing to prepare for winter?

**Telephus44** · 10-13-2006, 03:42 PM

Just wondering what everyone was doing to prepare for winter. So far on our list:

1. Take out A/C (we dropped it out the window last summer, so we have had to duct tape some of the fins, and there is a huge hole in the duct tape work letting the outside air in).
2. Putting new batteries in the programmable thermostat
3. We have some window film left over from last year - we'll either put it up in the bedroom or cover part of the sliding door in the living room.

**staceyy** · 10-13-2006, 05:58 PM

I bought a new, heavy, hand-crocheted afghan off of Ebay,and I need to buy a new cord of wood for the fireplace.

**yankeegal** · 10-13-2006, 07:12 PM

we are finally replacing the last of the windows that need to be done-(I would rather have a new kitchen-oh well)
I used the window film for years-it really does make a difference. I also have heavy velvet-like drapes that I use in the winter.
Also, with the house being sealed up like a drum, it is also a good time to replace the batteries in the carbon monoxide detector as well.

**FrugalMomof3** · 10-13-2006, 08:44 PM

Well we took out the Ac's from the windows and weatherized the front windows already... not much else to do except have plenty of blankets handy.

The rest of our windows were brand new when we bought the house so that's good. We also re-insulated our attic crawl space a few months ago with the help of the PA Weatherization Program and that's was FREE! They also put in weather stripping around the front door so this winter we should feel a difference in the warmness of the house with all the extra pre-cautions taken.

**thrifty gal** · 10-13-2006, 11:20 PM

We, too, took the ac out of the window. Also, I brought out the extra quilt we have, and I'm thinking of buying an electric blanket. Today, I bought some "Great Stuff" (that's the actual name) that you use to fill in cracks and gaps anywhere in your home. We found a few places that could use it, so dh is planning on doing that this weekend.

**Neeley** · 10-14-2006, 12:16 AM

Since we do not get too cold here we won't do too much. Our house is older and a little drafty, so we will do little things to help in this area.
*We are looking into hanging some curtains over the wooden blinds we already have now to cut off some of the draft.
*We will put up some window film on the windows that face the backyard .
*Our front door is all glass except around the edges where the doorknob and hinges are and we will hang a curtain up to keep draft out (it is one we had specially made to cover this.
* We will buy one more space heater and 4 new electric blankets. Plus everyone will get new warm jammies - including the little dog.
***But I refuse to pay for gas so I will not have the central heat turned on again this year. We did just fine last year without it.

**3pups** · 10-14-2006, 05:58 PM

1.Our house is older and drafty, so we'll be putting in some much needed insulation in hte attic(the old stuff is done).
2. We had our fireplace cleaned out in the early summer, so now we can actually use it this year. Just need to buy some wood.
3. I'm putting up some thicker curtains in the bedroom to keep them warmer at night

**FrugalWitch** · 10-14-2006, 06:56 PM

According to the mirror, I'm primed for cold weather with a super-thick fat layer. Between my fat and DH's whiskers we may have artic conditions due.

**pkellyc** · 10-14-2006, 10:32 PM

I bought a heated matress pad. I used it for the first time last night and I don't like it. It seems I am like the princess and the pea. Even though I put it under my regular matress pad I could still feel the cords running through it. I didn't sleep well and I just can't stand it.

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 10-15-2006, 08:20 AM

We don't start to get ready for winter til December here. Then I'll pull out the heated mattresspads for everyones beds, the flannel sheets and the extra comforters. In fact I've pulled out the comforters to take them to the landry mat this coming week. They need a bath to freshen them from storage.
The ac is off and the windows are open. Will also pull out the winter jammies and do the wardrobe change here in the next few weeks.

Laurie in BRadenton

**nuisance26** · 10-15-2006, 02:00 PM

~Nothing. Urg. This is a the kick in the butt(and that the weather has suddenly turned artic here!) Does everyone remove their window ac units or winterize them somehow where they are? Ours is screwed onto the frame and DH doesn't want to break it getting it out. I have everything to do still. Getting the storm windows in place, insulating my crawlspace, plastic on the windows, drapes to sew and hang, clothes to rotate, etc... My house was 58 degrees this morning so I need to get busy.~

**TheRootedNomad** · 10-19-2006, 07:25 AM

The biggest thing I do in prepping for winter I do months ahead of time. I budget so much a month for our Gas/Electric bill. Instead of claiming that money for found money when the weather started cooling down I continued to hide it in our checking account so I'm prepped with a sufficent padding for price increases or a harsh winter. Our company has a budget plan you can be on where they assess how much they think you should pay every month. We were on it for awhile but they're assessing factors our based on "most customers" and we're not "most customers. They also reassess the amount oin a scheadule that works for them. This one works for us. Last year when gas prices were getting ready to go up they wanted us to pay 361.00 a month. The highest bill we'd had in the prior two months was just over 200.00. We were a little cautious because we'd just addedd a 400 sq ft extension and hadn't been through a winter with it yet but chose t try it our way and it's worked. We budget 200.00 a month and whatever we don't send in we keep aside. Once we have a 400.00 padding for the season (summer or winter) we stick anything else extra in the EF or on the morgage.

Last year we insulated the crawl, and we've slowly been changing out our 40+ year old windows with replacement windows.

**Katybird** · 10-19-2006, 09:26 AM

I am putting the down comforter on our bed today, it was down to the low 40s here this morning and it would have sure been nice to have had it to snuggle under this morning.

**MOMMYDEAREST** · 10-19-2006, 02:24 PM

we have been sealing our windows & doors. we have a sliding door on our deck 7 cold air always flows through there so easily, so we sealed that little sucker rightup. another thing i have been doing is trying to "STOCKPILE" a little bit more. i'm a bigtime coupon clipper, and i get so much stuff for free or close to free. i think stockpiling is so important in the wintertime because when the weather gets bad, you normally should have what you need besides the basics (milk, eggs, fruit, etc).

**Early Bird** · 10-19-2006, 06:17 PM

A few weeks ago, we took down the evaporative coolers.

Soon after that, we added a plush blanket to our bed.

This past week, I added another comforter, and DH turned on the central heat. He also set the programmable thermostats to 62.

We're looking into a fireplace insert or a pellet stove.