January 1, 2018…I’ll be looking forward to hearing where I can get a view of that sky! How to Keep the Cold Out of Bedroom Walls. My SO refused to do another 60 degree winter, so now we’re at 65. And please, don’t feel unfrugal just because we have one quirky, stubborn habit. The majority probably sets their thermostat based on average temperatures, or what they’re used to, or what the neighbors do. ... being insulated to keep the house … I gotta admit that I was floored when I heard how much it costs to keep your place at 56 in the winter time. He’s been known to walk around the house in his parka too…which makes me laugh…. I like the idea of moving the dial (temperature, budget, running distance etc ) up or down by 10% and seeing what it feels like, and whether you can ‘handle’ it (or even like it), and if you do, then try another 10% and then you eventually get to your ‘optimal’ equilibrium, which is unique for everyone. It’s one thing to voluntarily spend your money on the things that you’ve decided add value to your life and are worth the additional expenditure; it’s quite another to feel the greedy hands of a giant utility reach into your wallet every month to extract some exorbitant, unknown sum simply for the benefit of not wearing layers for a few hours in the house. Readers are advised to do their own research and make decisions in partnership with their health care provider. If this is true, that makes me SO HAPPY. We actually did something like this in our house. I’m glad you’ve found a temperature that works for you, and I think it’s great that you’re looking for where else you can make changes. I used a space heater at my desk, lots of clothes in the kitchen and my usual duvet in the bedroom. :), Thank goodness we have a wood stove, not a fireplace — SO much more efficient, and doesn’t have that vacuum effect. I think we are all aware that using the heater less means more money saved and I’ve shared how to keep warm without cranking up that thermostat but there are actually a few other reasons to keep your home thermostat set just a bit lower this season! if you're under 65, healthy and active, you can safely have your home cooler than 18C, as long as you're comfortable use a hot water bottle or electric blanket to keep warm in bed – but do not use both at the same time have at least 1 hot meal a day – eating regularly helps … Living room windows stay open as soon as it is ~50F. We never ever used the heat when we lived in apartments and our condo, and I’m positive we benefited from others’ heat. Haha, yes, you’re right about MMM’s fancy cheese! People think we’re a bit strange to keep a $200 grocery budget. It accomplishes this by reversing the direction of Freon flow using valves that are electrically operated. So perhaps a cooler home does nothing to germs, but maybe it does; I’d like to think it does but that’s probably just wishful thinking. (I do let it go down to 60 in the afternoons during Lui’s nap and at nighttime.) Secondly, I give you serious congrats on being able to acclimate to your thermostat being that low. Stop drafts and heat loss by filling any holes and cracks in the walls or between your baseboards and the floor with caulk or other sealant. And yes, we have an electric blanket, and an electric mattress heater. Keeping that thermostat lower means you won’t get too cozy. He would also be up at 5 am to fire it back up and then do darm chores. We don’t use heat at all, we have our thermostat turned completely off. We keep it cold at our house unless it is a certain temperature outside. Think dry skin, chapped lips, and static electricity. Another thing to note about weather strips and caulk … And I take really hot showers or I’m cold all day long. :-) But we’re amply equipped with fleece everything, which makes a world of difference. She’s only taxing her system and (especially at her age) that kind of strain ain’t healthy. If you are looking to shed some pounds, then dropping the temperature is an easy way to loose some weight. Even if it’s like us and just bi-weekly, it’s WAY worth it to us to not have to do as much cleaning. One cord lasts two months (we don’t heat the downstairs at all, unless we have company), and the house stays deliciously, toasty warm. Though I love the mountains, I could never live there full-time. However, we also live in a very small, upper apartment and I swear that the heat that’s being cranked downstairs by the older lady is seeping upstairs. In extreme cases, low humidity can even crack wooden furniture. Keep blinds closed during the day. Even now living in the city times are tight. Now, I’m usually cold at home, but I’m rarely cold elsewhere. ;-). Similar to your driveway plowing expenditure is worth it to you guys from a time perspective, it’s same with the maids for us. ;-) Just kidding! But, fortunately, it’s not a competition to out-frugal each other. I would rather put on more clothes and stay warm than to have the heat up so high.. I also advocate here to not overheat the house and put on an extra layer of cloths. In the long run, the cold atmosphere could damage her health more than her asthma. We have robes, but we tell everyone to bring slippers. We will general keep the temperature at around 80, which is much, much higher than most people. I was fine in our cold house but he worked elsewhere and thought the home was frigid.). No problem! Well, I never! Like you guys, we would probably not truly be considered frugal in a lot of areas of our finances. My dog suffers right along with me. Yes! I’d rather spend my money on other things. That’s awesome for you guys though – that is a HUGE cost savings! I don’t know if you are familiar with this guy but his outlook on life has many things in common with the FIRE community, even though I doubt he had any interest in retiring early, since he’s already making his own path. We’re going well into the midnight hours. Sure it feels warm by the fire, but every Btu that goes up the chimney is replaced by cold air pulled into the house elsewhere. Everything on this blog is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended to substitute for obtaining professional financial advice. Nope. Germs can spread around the house through contact, air (coughs and sneezes), raw foods (e.g. I’m hoping my kids catch on like I did, and it saves us some green. for “book” in my last post read “blog” !! When you need to go buy more organic grocery items, it’s a health/environment issue, so you shell out. 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