Saving on heating costs?

[Joannee]

I was over a friends house today and she refused to turn the heat on, she said she has been saving a ton of money by keeping the heat off and just wearing lots of layers inside. Her house was so cold that I kept my parka, boots, and snow pants on while inside. Has anyone managed to save significant money by doing this?

 

[A_Thinker]

I was over a friends house today and she refused to turn the heat on, she said she has been saving a ton of money by keeping the heat off and just wearing lots of layers inside. Her house was so cold that I kept my parka, boots, and snow pants on while inside. Has anyone managed to save significant money by doing this?

I'd imagine that you could save a few hundred dollars if you practiced this throughout the winter.

 

[“Paisios”]

I was over a friends house today and she refused to turn the heat on, she said she has been saving a ton of money by keeping the heat off and just wearing lots of layers inside. Her house was so cold that I kept my parka, boots, and snow pants on while inside. Has anyone managed to save significant money by doing this?

A few years ago, I compared heating costs with my next door neighbor who has a similar size house and same type of oil heating. She kept her house at about 75 degrees F, while I keep mine at about 60 degrees F. Over the course of the winter, she spent over $1000 more than I did. (That was a few years ago when gas and oil prices were higher than they are now).

 

[Joannee]

I'd imagine that you could save a few hundred dollars if you practiced this throughout the winter.

Do you think that’s worth it?

 

[Joannee]

A few years ago, I compared heating costs with my next door neighbor who has a similar size house and same type of oil heating. She kept her house at about 75 degrees F, while I keep mine at about 60 degrees F. Over the course of the winter, she spent over $1000 more than I did. (That was a few years ago when gas and oil prices were higher than they are now).

60F sounds absolutely fridgid! How did you manage with your house that cold?

 

[“Paisios”]

60F sounds absolutely fridgid! How did you manage with your house that cold?

I think I tolerate and appreciate cold more than most. I am actually comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt at that temperature, though my wife and kids felt the need to put on sweaters (of course, you can buy a lot of sweaters and blankets with $1000). I don’t usually wear a heavy coat in the winter, just a light jacket, and I don’t tolerate summer heat very well.

These days we turn it up to 65 so it is more comfortable for them...but now I am too hot, especially under the covers at night and I find it uncomfortable.

 

[mama2one]

we save money by controlling the thermostat
our monthly gas budget is $47/mos

I lower it at night and when leaving house
we do wear sweaters in the house

 

[A_Thinker]

Do you think that’s worth it?

I don't like the cold, ... my feet especially.

I'll pay to keep it warm enough to stay comfortable.

I can go 70-72 degrees at night, and 4 degrees warmer during the daytime.

My family kept the thermostat at 68 during the Oil Embargo of the 1970's. I remember that as cold ...

 

[mama2one]

last yr, I was stricter which is probably why our budget is low ...63 degrees

this year 64 or 65 at night and 66 during day
turned it to 60 when we were away on vacation

husband complains sometimes
I bought him another warm blanket for Christmas, lol

 

[Brian Mcnamee]

staying warm is a very nice thing. Saving money especially if you are on a tight budget will trump keeping the place warm in the say 70's. If you are where solar works you can offset the heating cost of winter with almost 0 cost in summer. I live in a mobile home that does not insulate well. We heat it up before we go to bed and once when we wake up. We also turn it on as a luxury when we have company over. If you came to my house I would want you to be welcome and warm maybe 70 not 75 though.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I don't like the cold, ... my feet especially.

I'll pay to keep it warm enough to stay comfortable.

I can go 70-72 degrees at night, and 4 degrees warmer during the daytime.

My family kept the thermostat at 68 during the Oil Embargo of the 1970's. I remember that as cold ...

I agree. I didn't work my butt off all my life to be cold in my own home.

 

[bekkilyn]

I currently live in two houses depending on the day of the week. In one house, I need the heat on to about 75 just to stay tolerably warm and in the other I have the heat on between 65 and 70 and am typically warmer than in the 75 house. If I need to walk around inside a house in gloves and ski pants and parka or whatever, then what would be the point of being in the house? How do you actually work or get things done when you're wearing gloves (good luck typing at computer) or when you are shivering so much that you can't focus or concentrate on anything?

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I currently live in two houses depending on the day of the week. In one house, I need the heat on to about 75 just to stay tolerably warm and in the other I have the heat on between 65 and 70 and am typically warmer than in the 75 house. If I need to walk around inside a house in gloves and ski pants and parka or whatever, then what would be the point of being in the house? How do you actually work or get things done when you're wearing gloves (good luck typing at computer) or when you are shivering so much that you can't focus or concentrate on anything?

There are medical benefits to deliberately induced hypothermia, which can protect the brain.

Preventing Severe Brain Injuries By Cooling The Body

 

[ml5363]

We keep our heat on 63.. the heat dries me out so badly...we just put on long sleeves and house shoes...summer we do 73-75...

I am cheap...so try to stretch our dollars

 

[disciple Clint]

I was over a friends house today and she refused to turn the heat on, she said she has been saving a ton of money by keeping the heat off and just wearing lots of layers inside. Her house was so cold that I kept my parka, boots, and snow pants on while inside. Has anyone managed to save significant money by doing this?

Maybe your friend needs a financial blessing. Can you help her?

 

[AvgJoe]

I was over a friends house today and she refused to turn the heat on, she said she has been saving a ton of money by keeping the heat off and just wearing lots of layers inside. Her house was so cold that I kept my parka, boots, and snow pants on while inside. Has anyone managed to save significant money by doing this?

Regardless of my efforts to save money on heating/cooling the house, I would never make visitors to my home endure it.

 

[“Paisios”]

Regardless of my efforts to save money on heating/cooling the house, I would never make visitors to my home endure it.

Agreed. When I have visitors (though that is rare), and when my (adult) kids come home to visit, we turn our heat up.

My wife likes it warm in the house, but she is more frugal than I am, so she tolerates the cooler temperature and I enjoy it.

 

[whereloveandmercymeet]

We don’t even turn our heating on until October/November. Then once the air gets cold it’s on to 65-68 through winter. We’d have it a little cooler but my lungs get more tetchy in winter. I don’t get too much choice in it, but unless I needed the money for essentials I’d rather spend it on heating and be comfortable.

Edit: Stupid typo.

 

[bekkilyn]

There are medical benefits to deliberately induced hypothermia, which can protect the brain.

Preventing Severe Brain Injuries By Cooling The Body

That sounds great if you're in the middle of a heart attack or stroke, but otherwise, deliberately inducing hypothermia on a daily basis for months out of every year isn't helpful at all to enjoying and experiencing other parts of life.

 

[mama2one]

research seems to support colder temps and increased life span

https://joshmitteldorf.scienceblog....d-life-span-its-not-about-the-rate-of-living/

lowering the temp at night does help sleep

The Best Temperature for a Good Night’s Sleep


we recently had company and I did turn up the heat for them and asked everyone if they were warm enough
(but I got so hot since am used to it lower)