I'm not a cheapskate, I'm just thrifty. I spend money where it is appropriate, and I try to save a little here and there on some items that are deemed to be of secondary importance.
One of those expenses is HEAT! I live in Newnan Georgia, in the Southeast. And while we experience frigid temperatures in the dead of winter, our falls are usually moderate with chilly nights and pleasant days.
So I typically don't turn on the furnaces until about a week before Thanksgiving. In the mean time we adjust from our summer thermostat setting of 78 degrees to our winter setting of 68 degrees!
However, we are experiencing an early cold snap that has caused the house to slowly cool, day after day, until this morning, when the thermometer is reading a toasty 57 degrees in the house.
And that's chilly, even for me. So I am actually considering going up into the attic and servicing the heaters and getting them up and running.
Hmmm... there's plenty of heat of the office ... and the cats have fur coats! Maybe I can hold out for a few more days!
Photo courtesy of SmokyPhotos.com
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Richard - I had the same idea, however, I had to acquiesce to the ruler of the home who happens to work from there all day. Wasn't there something about global warming......?
Turn it on! Before you are a popsicle! I understand being thrifty or frugal but don't freeze! I just turned mine on, we have had the windows open for days but the last couple of them have been CHILLY! I think i've saved enough, I want to be warm! KM
I wait until we are freezing because it makes the house smell bad for a few hours. I hate that smell! I had to do it Monday afternoon.
57 degrees - bet your fingers can barely function.... and it's supposed to be this way for the next couple of days!
Cat warmers are a good thing to have! I set my thermostat at around 65 and wear a sweater. And 57 would get my attention!
Richard,
With 4 thermostats and 5 heat pums and other people in the house, it is hard to keep that kind of control here....maybe those little covers that require keys are an option......
I too turned my heat on the last couple days. Since the temps will be warmer the rest of the week I have already turned it off. The cold does make you unable to function.
Richard, I am with you buddy, the heat stays off for as long as possible...just throw a few extra blankets on and open all the blinds during the day!
Hi Richard,
I've broken down to turn on the heat!! (Yes, I whimped out!) but I have a great excuse! My three-year-old granddaughter lives with me and I didn't want her to get sick from being too cold! I keep my thermostat at 78 in Summer and 68 in Winter also! If it wasn't for Alana (granddaughter) I probably would still have the heat off!
Mike, my fellow Georgian friend...
I have heard similar rumblings, and there may be a policy change in the works! lol
Kristin...
Wow, if you're turning the heat on in Texas, I need to rethink my rule! I may have lost all the flowers last night, though! ;)
Mel...
And then the smoke alarms go off ..but as I told Kristin, I shouldn't feel bad if the Texans have given in!
thanks to this cold snap it's cold over here in Carolina too! (and my heat is running)
Penny...
I think that's the key ... we can make it through two or three days, but not a week of the cold night temperatures. So, I may do the unthinkable! lol
Patricia...
Funny how the cats are more "affectionate" this time of year! ;)
Conrad ...
Ah, the zones. Actually, that's a great way to maintain pleasant temps for everyone!
Richard, my love. You mention you and the cats. I certainly hope your wife has a fur coat too, you bounder! My husband used to try to regulate the heat for years. We were always freezing and if the temperature rose above 62 in my home he would say, "did you turn the heat up, it's hot in here". I finally informed him that I work too and I work from home most days and I would keep the heat anywhere I wanted and if he so much as touched the thermostat one more time, he shouldn't close his eyes around me ever again! Then I went out and got a complicated thermostate with a great time that he doesn't know how to regulate, so problem solved! But even I am now putting on sweaters as I'm trying to keep out of debtors prison these days!
Sorry Boss...I spent thousands (I really did not have) in September and had a whole new system put in my house. (Had the original condenser from 1960!!!!!) Amazing how much better it is....and I have had in on a coupte times already.
But we turn it down low, and work in one room and have a small heater in there...I totally hear you!
Kathy...
But it's a good sleep all cozied up with your sweetie, isn't it?
Jer...
Oh, I love passive heat so the blinds are opened for the suns rays and the cats "television!"
Bonnie...
Grandchildren are the souce or many excellent "excuses!" lol
Gene...
I am surprised by the number of comments from the Southerners. I guess it is colder than usual!
Susan...
you devil you! Befuddling your husband with learning curve dysfunction! I have no idea how to program mine, and I don't care to know how. And, as you already know, no man will ever admit to not knowing how to operate something!
You are brilliant, it was the perfect solution.
Thom, my Atlanta friend...
Sounds like you have a plan, and I'll bet that new system will save you a fortune in the long run! Money well spent, I say!
CTS laughs when I say I am cold. It has been colder here than in NY. This some how entertains her.
It's unseasonably cold in North Carolina, too. I don't get it.
Good Morning Richard-Yes even the most frugal of us do have to give in and turn on the heat. I did last night myself as I must have got chilled and just couldn't seem to get warm. Your pics are wonderful as always including your watercolor one. I 'm planning on this weekend getting some fall colors but the good thing is I don't have to drive very far to enjoy Fall's beauty. Take care and if it's in your budget you ought to stop by in my neck of the woods as I've been doing some of my best work lately. I loved Susan's comment. Good for her. Take care and God Bless
Mel...
It apparently doesn't take much for Carolyn to be entertained!
Richard: You are as bad as me! I fight my husband every year to not turn on the furnance on the first chilly night. There's nothing better than getting under layers of warm blankets in a chilly room. And I find that's when the cats like to sleep on the bed next to me.
Richard,
Spur on the economy and turn on the heat! I had to turn mine on about a week ago. My children complain relentlessly that is it cold in the house. I say, as my dad always did, put on some more clothes! ;-)
I hope you are not too cold this morning,
Ann
You cheapskate, turn the heat on! My wife turned ours on last week, due to the unseasonably cold weather. I blame it on Global Warming?
RW- I am a wimp though. You seem (;)) to be tougher skinned than me and I figure WHAT THE HECK! with all the $ i'm saving on GAS for my vehicle, I can afford it. :). KM
Richard, I hear your teeth chattering. Better turn on that heat. Don't want to catch a cold from the cold.
I turned the outside wood funace on Oct 3rd. just to keep the chill off. I could have used propane as my wife suggested for the few days it's been chilly, but I hate to pay the bill and the wood is free, and I nedd the excersise!
We run a woodstove in the winter....wood is free (as Bill also just stated) and it heats better in my opinion. Furnace is backup for the most part.
Brian...
Just one of those years, I guess!
Pat...
I hope that you get some nice pics. And we should not wait so long to turn on the heat, that's why it was invented! Susan is indeed something else!
Chris Ann...
That's why we have cats! lol
Ann...
Dad was right, you need to dress for the temperature ... speaking of which it's warming up now!
JL...
It is due to Global Warmng. All those people warming globes are using all of the heat up!
KM...
I used all of the money I saving on gas to pay for my speeding ticket! lol
Gary...
I guess it's not worth getting sick over!
Richard we got the cold snap too, but no heat here in Miami. It does feel really good puts me in the Christmas mood!
Richard, How come nobody ever told me I had a vote on the issue? My wife dusts the thermostat for fingerprints to see if I've been touching it. 38 years and I still don't have thermostat priviledges.
I used to argue with my wife about the tempature and to just put on another sweatshirt. Now I just turn it down without her knowing. They get used to it eventually :-)
Steve, could you do me a favor and give me your wife's email address? There's something I have to tell her and I promise that it has nothing to do with your last comment. :-)
Heck, 57 is a heat wave in Oregon, we are still running around in shorts and tank tops!
Bill...
That's what I need! Free fuel ... AND more exercise! THX
Mandi...
I like the heat from burning wood too! We don't use it anymore but I am rethinking it!
Darin...
And how cold is a cold snap in Miami?
Richard I...
Have you met Susan???
Steve...
Don't let Susan catch you!
Susan...
LOL I'm am laughing because I wrote the comment to Steve BEFORE I read yours! Now that is funny!
Leslie...
I'm talking about INSIDE the house!
Susan, I think Tony has joined and used the alias Steve.
Well it looks as this has turned into the male versus female battle over the thermostat.
Richard, If your'e cold turn it on, if not buy the lovely lady a sweater.
Susan, You are a sly Lady.
Who let Cameron in? Susan, get 'em! I have your back.
Richard - It is also unusually cold here. However I never touch the thermostat. My dad had me trained, growing up you took your life in your hands if you touched it. So, here I sit in my own house freezing to death and whining about the cold. And I will continue to whine until hubby turns the heat up : -)
Mel...
It could very well be!
Cameron...
I think the thermostat has been the battleground for the sexes for some time now!
Mel...
Well there you go!
Sandra...
I never realized that this problem was so pervasive!
I gotta tell this story- A friend of Tony's bought his wife a Mercedes. She wanted the S520 but he purchased E430 (?). He had the logo's changed and she never knew the difference.
Richard, Steve and I have come to an understanding. He will keep me in Cabernet and I will not tell his wife what he said.
Mel, Cam is being a gentleman. He called one of us lovely and then he called me sly. I have a friend here in the rain who told me that she is also hearing impaired. She said when people speak to her and she can't hear them, she assumes they are telling her she's beautiful! I thought that was a hoot! So I am assuming that I am the lovely lady who wins the sweater!
Mel...
I don't think that there is a safe response for any man!
Susan...
Once again, I'm walking on eggshells!
Richard, did you know that the wise men were deaf mutes? Seriously. That's why everyone thought they were wise men!
Susan...
You have me in stiches here! I am laughing so hard I can't breathe.
What? What did I say? It's true? Just ask anyone.
So, have you got the heat on, or are you blogging in layers tonight.
Said the King to the people everywhere. Do you hear what I hear. The wise men all said no! We can't hear a damn thing.
JL...
Based on the responsed, I turned on the heat and set the thermostat at 63! I'm burning up!
Susan...
ROTFLMAO
Glad to here that the masses managed to talk some sense into you.
JL...
And all this time I thought the cold spots were caused by ghosts!
No, just cheapskates thrifty people.
63???? I would need a nose mitten!
JL...
Well, it could be a thrifty ghost!
Susan...
I am in a tee-shirt ... 63 is toasty!!!
I guess so, it is the time of year for all the thrifty ghosts to be coming out.
That penny sure has her troubles doesn't she?
Richard,
Yes, it was gorgeous today!!
Ann
Toasty... hmmm. toast·y adj. toast·i·er, toast·i·est Pleasantly warm. 63 is pleasantly warm?? Maybe where Jesse lives.
JL...
She really needs to change.
Ann...
Yes it was!
I know right, the last time I saw her she was hanging out with a group of bikers over on West 42nd, ringing a bell and screaming bring out your dead. Just strange man.
JL...
I believe that resulted from drinking too much Captain Morgans.
Richard- You know my friend, you may be right. See you later.
Richard,
My friend I have a little something for you and I hope that you enjoy it this winter.
Winter does seem to be coming early this year. There was more than 6 inches of snow on Monday into Tuesday morning not 15 miles from me. Ouch!!!! It never snows in October. Keep warm Richard.
Don, is what Richard going to enjoy under the red blanket?
Wow, it is possible to have fun without me. Who would have thunk?
Susan, thanks for taking care of business while I was sleeping.
Mel, how are you feeling? It's not the same without you. Do you know what is going on under the red blanket?
Susan, considering all the time spent on AR I doubt there is a whole lot going on under there! Who's has that kinda time?
I am kinda scared of the red blanket, you never know what could be hiding under it. It would be great camo for the Red Stapler and the Red Vacume though.
Richard- You are just so popular these days. My finger got tired scrolling to the end of all these comments! You know Jesse Clifton would say 57 was a heat wave!
Richard,
That is how I feel here in Texas but with the air conditioner.
We try to hold off as long as we can before we turn it on.
Richard... it was -18 yesterday morning at our house. We're burning fuel like it's going out of style. :) Lori's right... 57 IS a heat wave! haha
Don...
Why thanks for the nice blanket!
Mel...
You need to get back here where you belong!
Susan and Mel...
OK let's all snuggle under the red blanket and watch an old movie!
Richard, I can't snuggle right now because I am going through all of my freaking posts and deleting anything that might be construed as a copyright violation. I have been sitting here since 7:00 this morning and I am in the middle of a very bad attitude.
Susan...
Do overly worry about it. I think they are going after the big offenders first ... I hope!