How to Save Money - Page 76

ILG · #**751** 12-27-2010, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missourimary

I'm in the process of making very heavy winter curtains out of denim for the winter. I haven't quite finished that task yet. I keep blinds and curtains closed at night, have a programmable thermostat and two kitty-heaters... if the heat is turned down the cats snuggle next to me and my lap or bed stays very warm. The way one of them eats though, I haven't decided if he is an energy efficient or cost effective heating device or not, though.

Rugs on the hardwood floors, book cases and other heavy furniture on the outer walls (a full book case on an outer wall is the equivalent of an additional 4"-7" of insulation). I added blown insulation to the attic two years ago, and that was well worth the investment.

I also wear sweaters and socks rather than lighter weight clothes in the house, add blankets to the bed, make sure the windows are caulked, and keep my bed away from outer walls since those are cooler. I haven't turned on the humidifier yet--need to do that tonight. On colder days I also run a space heater in the room I'm in rather than heating the whole house.

Sounds like you are doing some very cost-effective things and you have to count the emotional happiness the kitty brings you.

Probably less trips to the doctors office.

Do you mind if I ask what you keep your thermostat on? We have ours on 67 in the day and 62 at night. We are usually pretty bundled up.

We also have heating blankets for at night.

Last year my husband put plastic up but this year he didn't. He is a very hard worker though, so I won't say anything. Sometimes you do what you have time for. Our house is very well insulated. It was that way when we bought it and a nice "perk".

Our rent house is having some serious issues though since that last storm blew through. It seems the roof is leaking quite a bit. We have a roofer going out and are hoping insurance will cover a lot of it. I am not all sure what is going on but it sounds expensive.

ILG · #**752** 12-27-2010, 09:52 AM

Here's a money saving tip that I did last night. If you have some nice leather shoes, when they wear a bit instead of buying a new pair, buy some shoe polish and polish them up! They look great when you are done and will definitely make your shoes last longer!

ILG · #**753** 12-27-2010, 10:14 AM

99 cents a bulb. Apparently free shipping if you put DEC25 for a coupon code. I haven't tried as I am already stocked up on bulbs.

http://www.bulbs.com/eSpec.aspx?ID=16259

missourimary · #**754** 12-27-2010, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILG

Do you mind if I ask what you keep your thermostat on? We have ours on 67 in the day and 62 at night. We are usually pretty bundled up.

We also have heating blankets for at night.

Last year my husband put plastic up but this year he didn't. He is a very hard worker though, so I won't say anything. Sometimes you do what you have time for. Our house is very well insulated. It was that way when we bought it and a nice "perk".

I keep mine on 68 most of the time I'm home and 62 when I'm not plus some nights that I'm generally out. If I get cold and realize the temperature is set at 62 I turn it up to 68-70.

I've read that if you get heavier curtains that come at least 2" past the window sill/trim you will cut drafts dramatically. It seems to work for me... except that I haven't got the curtains made for three rooms yet.

ILG · #**755** 12-27-2010, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missourimary

I keep mine on 68 most of the time I'm home and 62 when I'm not plus some nights that I'm generally out. If I get cold and realize the temperature is set at 62 I turn it up to 68-70.

I've read that if you get heavier curtains that come at least 2" past the window sill/trim you will cut drafts dramatically. It seems to work for me... except that I haven't got the curtains made for three rooms yet.

I don't have very many curtains. We have lots of windows and I love the sun coming in and I can see everything outside. However, we need some better night-coverings. We have blinds for only some of the windows and are working on the rest. Like I said, he did plastic last year but we don't have any up this year.

My husband read that a difference in over 5 degrees on programmable thermostats is too far for the house to catch up and costs more on catch up than it's worth. I don't know much about that...he's the expert on that stuff.

missourimary · #**756** 12-27-2010, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILG

My husband read that a difference in over 5 degrees on programmable thermostats is too far for the house to catch up and costs more on catch up than it's worth. I don't know much about that...he's the expert on that stuff.

Some sites say that's true. Others consider it a myth. It works for me... but I'm not home or I'm asleep at least 16 hours of the day. Raising the temperature for the other 8, even significantly, doesn't seem too hard for the furnace. My gas bills average between $100-120 from January-March; electric runs around $50. Last month gas was $80 and electric was $30-40. My house is 980 sq feet upstairs, plus a full basement... I haven't shut the door to the basement yet, so I'm still heating that space.

I want to do something similar to this: http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/ But I want about 300-400 sq ft plus an attic.

ILG · #**757** 12-27-2010, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missourimary

Some sites say that's true. Others consider it a myth. It works for me... but I'm not home or I'm asleep at least 16 hours of the day. Raising the temperature for the other 8, even significantly, doesn't seem too hard for the furnace. My gas bills average between $100-120 from January-March; electric runs around $50. Last month gas was $80 and electric was $30-40. My house is 980 sq feet upstairs, plus a full basement... I haven't shut the door to the basement yet, so I'm still heating that space.

I want to do something similar to this: http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/ But I want about 300-400 sq ft plus an attic.

I've seen pictures of those before. They are very cool. Of course it would be a little small for us.

missourimary · #**758** 12-27-2010, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILG

I've seen pictures of those before. They are very cool. Of course it would be a little small for us.

Tumbleweeds are a lot smaller than I'd want. I'd want something more the size of a 2 car garage with a loft. I'd really like to build it myself (with a lot of help from a construction guy, but I'd do the plans and some of the work), 3/4 in ground, skylights with built in vents, well insulated, and maybe even a bathroom right under the bedroom with a bathroom vent that blew the steam from the bath into the bedroom at night. Smaller windows, pellet stove or at least a wood heat option of some sort or wall furnace... every thing we own costs money to buy, costs more to maintain, and costs more to store. Right now I live in about 200 sq feet of my house. The other 1600 are heated storage space. So for me it makes sense to downsize the house and the stockpiles of stuff that have multiplied in the larger house.

But right now my job and the job market are shaky... I wouldn't want to build somewhere and then have to move.

RandyWayne · #**759** 12-27-2010, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missourimary

Tumbleweeds are a lot smaller than I'd want. I'd want something more the size of a 2 car garage with a loft. I'd really like to build it myself (with a lot of help from a construction guy, but I'd do the plans and some of the work), 3/4 in ground, skylights with built in vents, well insulated, and maybe even a bathroom right under the bedroom with a bathroom vent that blew the steam from the bath into the bedroom at night. Smaller windows, pellet stove or at least a wood heat option of some sort or wall furnace... every thing we own costs money to buy, costs more to maintain, and costs more to store. Right now I live in about 200 sq feet of my house. The other 1600 are heated storage space. So for me it makes sense to downsize the house and the stockpiles of stuff that have multiplied in the larger house.

But right now my job and the job market are shaky... I wouldn't want to build somewhere and then have to move.

I could never handle living in a house so small it could fit on the back of a Ford F-150 pickup.

Our house is "alright" but I am thinking of putting a small addition on the back in order to squeeze in an 8th bathroom and 11th bedroom suite.

RandyWayne · #**760** 12-27-2010, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missourimary

Tumbleweeds are a lot smaller than I'd want. I'd want something more the size of a 2 car garage with a loft. I'd really like to build it myself (with a lot of help from a construction guy, but I'd do the plans and some of the work), 3/4 in ground, skylights with built in vents, well insulated, and maybe even a bathroom right under the bedroom with a bathroom vent that blew the steam from the bath into the bedroom at night. Smaller windows, pellet stove or at least a wood heat option of some sort or wall furnace... every thing we own costs money to buy, costs more to maintain, and costs more to store. Right now I live in about 200 sq feet of my house. The other 1600 are heated storage space. So for me it makes sense to downsize the house and the stockpiles of stuff that have multiplied in the larger house.

But right now my job and the job market are shaky... I wouldn't want to build somewhere and then have to move.

I could never handle living in a house so small it could fit on the back of a Ford F-150 pickup.

Our house is "alright" but I am thinking of putting a small addition on the back in order to squeeze in an 8th bathroom and 11th bedroom suite.

You can tell from the front that while the size is ok it does feel a little tight.