Freezing…….as in cold!
The weather has taken a turn to the cold side here in Kentucky. A cold snap we weren’t prepared for! There has been frost a couple of mornings. brrrr….. The days have mostly been in the 50’s though.
Since I try really hard not to turn the heat on until November 1st, we’re a little chilly here. I’ve kept my eye on the indoor thermometer. One morning, it was 58 in the house. Most of the time it’s been 60 or 62 in the morning.
We normally have the thermostat set on 62 in the winter, so it’s only a couple of degrees colder than we would normally keep it. It just feels colder since it’s the first cold spell of the season.
Time to winterize around here. We’ve broken out the sweaters and sweatshirts. The thick socks and the warm afghans. It’s also time to put the plastic up on the windows. It really does make a big difference in the warmth of a room. The new window kits with the plastic that you use a blow dryer on after installing are what we use. The plastic shrink wraps so you can’t even see it on the window when you look out. The only way you can tell it is on the window is by looking at the edges.
A couple of years ago, I bought thermal drapes for the living room, dining room, and school room. They have made such a difference. We close them at night and even keep them closed during the day when temps are in the 20’s or below. In the summer, we close them to the afternoon sun and it keeps the house so much cooler. They were definitely worth the investment. I actually bought them online from Walmart and they were very reasonably priced.
So those are the main ways we try to save money on our winter heating bills. Setting the thermostat lower, using plastic on the windows and using thermal drapes. Oh, and baking more yummy food warms the house up, too.
What are some ways you use to lower your heating bill?
After the crazy heat from this summer. I’d like to see a little cold. Especially since we had a really warm winter here too.
Stefanie Smith recently posted..F is for… For Real?
It was really hot here, too, this summer. I just hope we don’t make up for it by being really cold this winter. A warm winter would be really nice. 🙂
We’re winterizing here in Maryland too. Seemed like the weather changed overnight. One day it was still late summer, and the next day we had frost and it was bitter cold at night. Brrr!!! We heat with a woodstove, so we know cold weather has arrived for the season when we have to build our first fire. That happened earlier this week. 8-/
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I think you hit the nail on the head, Kym. It’s the quick temperature change that gets us.
We have already turned our heat on here in Massachusetts, just once though, ha 🙂 We try to wear layers to keep warm and have heavy curtains up too that close at night, such a difference.
I’m originally from Cape Cod, Natalie. So I know all about those Massachusetts winters! Much worse than our Kentucky winters. Winters when we lived in Florida were much better. 🙂 Winters in Florida and summers on the Cape. That would be perfect, wouldn’t it? lol
That does sounds perfect! Can you arrange it for us lol 🙂 25 degrees this morning Linda… brrrr Enjoy Kentucky!! 🙂
Natalie recently posted..Boston: Ringling Bros – Fully Charged Circus
It was 34 degrees on my back porch a couple of minutes ago. So today, south doesn’t necessarily mean warmer! lol Have a great weekend. And stay warm! 🙂
I’m not sure I know any real effective ways to lower our bill, because my house is pretty large. I wish I could though, lol. Mostly, we set it a bit lower than I’d like and wear warmer clothes and cuddle in blankets, and keep doors closed to the rooms we can to try and contain the heat.
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We usually keep the door to the craft room closed in the winter, as it’s the coldest room in the house. It does make it tough to actually go in there and work on something. All the other rooms get used too much to try and keep the doors closed. It is nice to sit around sometimes just snuggled under blankets or homemade afghans. 🙂
It has been so hot here so I welcome the cold. I probably won’t be saying that in a few weeks though,lol
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Yes, the cold is a welcome relief to the very hot summer we had. But, you know, I’m still cold! roflol
It is still pretty warm down here in Alabama, but the nights are starting to get a little cooler! Those thermal drapes will save some money, they work really well!! Especially if you have sliding glass doors!
I love my thermal drapes and wish I hadn’t waited so long to buy them!
I live in NC, and 62 is just too cold for me! I am fortunate that we run a wood stove for the really cold months of the year so that it is 80 or higher in the house at all times. However, it is too hot at 60 in the house for the stove, but too cold for nothing. Who ever created heat pumps needs to redesign. I stay so cold, it just blows out cold air. I sit around in carhart socks, carhart coat and my slippers every day. I guess I’m bringing sexy back 😀
I sure would love to have a wood stove! Maybe someday….. Until then, I’m wearing sweatpants (or flannel pajama pants!) and a couple pairs of socks every day!
I know just what you mean I have some very, very clear memories of the cpuole of days leading up to my eldest’s birth (he, too, was due on October 12, though in 2006, and didn’t show up until the 20th). A lot of what happened directly after is a blur, but not those moments before. And I wonder a lot about how much I’ve changed since motherhood. Am I still the same person I was before he arrived? I can’t decide yes or no, or how much. But I feel both wistful and happy when his birthday comes around.Happy labor day to you, and early happy birthday to Vija!Allisonb4s last [type] ..
You are tougher than we are. Our cold snap hit 30 outside and our morning indoor was 60. I broke down and turned on the heat. Its back off as it has warmed up slightly. We have the shrink wrap for our windows no to find time to get it on.
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Oh, I’m not tough. Just frugal. Or cheap. I hate paying all that money!