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Frugally Fabulous in the Cold!

October 24th, 2006 at 01:17 pm

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!

It's 33 this morning in upstate SC, which is downright cold, I don't care where you are!

But here I sit, in a house with no heat, cackling with glee and joy. How, you ask?

Right now it's 57 in my house and 33 outside. The house stays relatively warm (well, not-cold!) because it is approximately 80 yrs old and is built like a brick @#$! house! Walls are amazingly thick.

I'm drinking hot coffee and wearing socks, flannel pants, and a sweatshirt, all very cozy. There's a cat in my lap, providing more heat than either of us needs.

The propety we bought had a ton of downed-limbs, 5 yrs worth, plus we had to take down a 140 yr old oak tree in august. So, we have plenty of free wood for the woodstove.

"But what about sleeping?" you ask. "How can you sleep when it's cold, and the woodstove is downstairs?"

The answer my friend is the awe-inspiring heated mattress pad. Went and bought a new one last night in anticipation of this cold front (old one was too small for this bed). Dual control, 10 hour auto-shutoff, and absolute heaven.

We spent 79.99 before 5% tax, and before you run screaming *grin* let me put things into perspective. Last winter I lived in a 900 sf rental house, and kept the thermostat at 65 during the winter. I had a gas bill that ranged from $180-$256 per month. ACK!!!!!!!!!! Big chunk of change for 4 months.

We bought this house in the heat of summer, but noticed that a) it was also gas heat, and b) it is 1700 sf. Visions of the gleeful gas company danced in my head... I called them to move the service, and they wanted another deposit because the house has a bad payment history. Not me, the house.... Does your house pay your bills? If so, how does it write the check? Needless to say I told them nevermind and to cut everything off. Spiteful, I know.

Regardless, I'm sitting here, comfy and cozy with no heat, flipping the gas company off in my mind. Very frugally fabulous!

4 Responses to “Frugally Fabulous in the Cold!”

  1. Ima saver Says:
    1161698056

    It is 28 outside and my house is around 60. It is good to have a well insulated house!

  2. LuxLiving Says:
    1161699568

    I love you tinapbeana!! MMMMMM-WA! Your post brought a giant smile to my face!

    I too live in an old house - you inspired me to do the math - a 64 year old house. My unheated and uncooled rock basement stays a nice even 68-70 degrees year round.

    Take THAT you nasty ol' gas company. Here we have billboards saying that our natural gas provider SUCKS!! ...and they do!! I don't know who paid for the billboards but they are right.

    Investigate propane if the cold gets to be too much for you.

  3. LuckyRobin Says:
    1161743312

    Oh, for pete's sake, the house has a bad history? Puh-lease. Sounds like more of an excuse to squeeze you for more money.

  4. tinapbeana Says:
    1161744096

    *chuckle* well, halloween is coming, maybe my house is haunted with bad credit. haaaaaaaaaaahahahaha!!!!

    lux, i'm glad i could bring a smile to your day, and i'm glad i'm not the only one who despises natural gas right now (and it used to be so much cheaper than electric!).

    ima, i hope you bundle up tonight: you're not far from me and it's supposed to cold again.

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