This winters impact on our household.

[moneysense]

We live in SE Ohio, and we live in a home that has been insulated for an area such as Michigan where the winters are much colder than here.

We also do everything we can to seal any area that may cause heat loss. But this winter has been an extremely rough one on us.

We generally dont use over 2 tanks of fuel per year, but we are almost out of the second tank of fuel, we supplement our heating with a wood burner. And we have gone through more wood this winter than any other winter since we have lived here.

This winter we have also had to supplement our heating with a kerosene heater in the garage and still we are being eaten up money wise by trying to keep our house at a comfortable temperature.

It is the middle of February now and we have another snow storm coming today but the temperatures should be in the 30s next week which is good when it comes to melting the foot of snow we have plus the 6 inches that is coming to keep from our having floods.

But the low temperatures are playing havoc on our pocketbook.

[dimetime]

It has been rather cold and that does mean that more and more money will be comming out of pocket to make sure that everyone is comfortable at home.

Its the same way here, we have electric heat here and the bill is staggering. Not to mention the few days we were with out power which meant that we had no choice but to break out the kerosene heaters to make sure that we didnt end up freezing to death.

Though companies know we cant survive with out warmth, so they are pretty much free to jack up their prices because we have no choice but to pay it or suffer.

[centsgirl]

I understand where you are coming from, we have used up 2 tanks of oil also, and we have a fireplace that I have to burn everday, can not seem to keep it warm enough, sure has been a cold one.

[Rae74]

I can tottally relate with you,this witner has been hard on alot of us this year.It seams that it is going to stick around a bit longer as well. All the snow and ice and rain,along with the cold temperatures,the light companys and gas companies are getting rich off of us trying to stay warm.

Check all of your windows and doors for drafts,if they are seeping air seal them up.Next keep your thermostat on about 68 degrees,all the time during the cold months.This will take some of the pressure off of the heating unit.Next make sure that the vents around the outside of the base of your hame are closed.If you still get nippy,fire up the fireplace for the evening and have a coxy relaxing time with the family.