As winter made its way into mid-Missouri last November, I zealously kept the thermostat at 65 degrees during the day, and turned it down to 60 at night. I like a cool room for sleeping, and besides, propane is expensive.
I kept that routine with diligence throughout December. Then January brought sub-zero temperatures that wrapped around my house, seeped into my bones, and wouldn't leave. I began to wander through the house with a blanket wrapped around my body. The house seemed too cool at times, but I'd look at the thermostat, and it showed that the furnace was chugging along doing its job: set at 65, it reaches 72 before shutting off, and lights off again at exactly 64. So why did I feel so much colder than I had i December?
As the bone-chilling cold lingered, I found myself nudging the thermostat upward to 68, then to 70. I stopped turning it down before going to bed. The heck with the cost of propane; we're on the level-pay plan anyway, and so far we're more that $500 ahead.
That's what this winter is doing to me, turning me into a wimp. The longer it goes on, the more heat I need.
I'm so ashamed.
I had done well too all winter and turned mine up Tues night with this approaching cold front. Neither Katy nor I could get warm. We came in way under in utilities for January. George was pleased and we were able to roll money over to savings and also to help pay for other extra expenses, like senior trip to New York for Katy (coming up soon). We changed a water heater out for a different type that is a wall unit and heats as it goes. It's paying for itself. We think that is a big reason for our savings and we were told it would be a noticeable change.
ReplyDeleteI have held out with not turning the heat up. The bananas on the counter won't even ripen. I was doing fine until this week and now I am just plum mad at this winter!!
ReplyDeleteDonna, we use butane too. We have filled up twice this winter. I think about $700 is what we have spent. I hope the last tank will last until we warm up.
ReplyDeleteThe sun is out here, but he is just a liar as it was one degree when I got up.
We live on I40 half way between Little Rock and Ft. Smith. Our Powells came down to Green Forest, AR where Patsy lives in 1903. They lived near Cassville then, but before that lived south of K City and before almost in Iowa. So our genes know your country!
Growing up K C was where everyone went if they needed a factory job. Our Dad just stayed on the farm. His brother worked in K C many years.
My husband was born in the 40s to an unwed 17 year old. She left him with her parents and headed north to K C. I am not sure where she worked, but she took a bus there and stayed several years before coming home. I think not just money but embarrassment sent her north. After she came home to Newton County, Ar to a little town called Ben Hur (google that town), she came south to Russellville, AR to work as a waitress. She brought her old Momma and Daddy along and that is how my husband got to this area. I came here to college and never went back north. Now my child lives near where Patsy and Fleta do. Where I grew up. We just live in circles!
Donna, I do the same darn thing. Once that chill settles into you, there isn't much else to be done. So we can be wimps together!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. I couldn't get warm yesterday! Brrrrr. So ready for Spring!
ReplyDeleteI've done the same here. Last night I couldn't get warm and even nudged it up to 71 degrees. What a difference that little bit made. It felt so good to be warm. It started out at minus 5 here this morning and after one more near 0 night they say we'll finally start warming up. I can hardly wait.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine the cold--and you need to feel comfortable! We have a gas insert fireplace that we sit in front of it if it's really cold. :)
ReplyDeleteIt hasn't got that cold here this year but I stay cold all the time. I resort to putting on an extra top. I have mine set at 69 but like yours it goes higher before it turns off. Helen
ReplyDeleteI keep my thermostat set on 65 at this end of the house and 60 at the other unless I am bathing when I raise it for several hours to 70. (2 furnaces) I am so tired of being cold. I wear a sweatshirt over my nightie to sleep and have 3 blankets on the bed. Some days I just jump into bed and pull the covers up and stay there!
ReplyDeleteI stay warm as long as I'm moving around. I can work outside with the horses wearing a long sleeved t-shirt and a down vest. But let me sit in my recliner for any length of time and I'm under either a fleece or down blanket. My husband says I have ice in my veins. Not true, I had a blood draw this morning and it was definitely red.
ReplyDeleteWhen it's cold, it's cold. I have to admit I turned up the thermostat too. I needed something to take the edge off. Going to be in the 40's here next week. Yippee a heat wave. I won't know what to do.
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