Who the hell keeps their house at fucking 62 degrees when it's 32 degrees outside?

[BlueStorm]

My dad, that's who. It's so fucking cold in here that my fingers and arms are so frozen I can barely type. Then I got fibromyalgia on top of that. I had to walk around today with my hips and back feeling like they were going to snap off.

Yes, I walk around in a t-shirt and some shorts but I am not comfortable wearing long pants in the house, don't ask me why, I'm just not.

But really, who would be crazy enough, even if they are trying to save on the electric bill, to have their house at that temperature.

And yesterday the lowest temperature was around 25 degrees and we had a blizzard

Blue

[Az]

1. Saddly we have to

We have a gas powered steam system in a wet plaster house with bad insulation and two stories. We turned the heat up this year to 64f because my brother just moved in with us (upstairs) and isn't used to our barbarian temps (and the upstairs tends to be colder too). Even at 62f we get $500+ heating bills during the winter.

[grasswire]

2. people who aren't wearing sweaters + slippers don't complain

That's the rule where I live. The heater is set at 62, but it's warmer than that on the second floor where most of the air rises and the shower warms things up, too. But the rule is that if you aren't wearing a sweater, pants, and something on your feet, you don't get to complain.

62 is 62, you know, even if it's -40 outside.

I suggest you get a fleece athletic top and bottom. Very comfortable, and you'll be surprised at how warm you are!

[trogdor]

24. We have 64 during the day.

58 at night. We have one of those electronic thermostats with three heating zones and four time settings. The thermostat upstairs is OFF because the top floor gets plenty of leftover heat from downstairs. The one in the rear of the house is set two degrees lower than the one in the living room. Starting at 10:30 (11:30 on weekends), the setting drops two degrees every two hours until the living room gets to 58, then it goes back to 64 at 6 AM.

What is your experience, fellow DU'ers? Does this save us any oil, or do we waste more firing up the furnace for a six degree boost than we save by dropping the temperature at night?

[chrisau214]

3. I'm Confused

What does the temperature outside have to do with the temperature inside? What does the outside temperature have to be to make the inside temperature of 62 acceptable?





Chris

[hfojvt]

4. those of us who are not wealthy

live in drafty houses. 62 inside when it is 20 outside is not the same as 62 inside when it is 45 outside and not the same as 62 inside when it is 85 outside. When it is cold outside, you can feel it. Since I only pay about $250 a year for heat it would not pay to get it sealed up. If it did, I might drop my thermostat down to 55.

[LaraMN]

41. Yup!

I set my heat at the same thing svery night, and I can tell when I get up in the morning if it's gotten particularly cold. It's drafty, and all the plastic window seals, caulking, and door guards in the world can't hide it!

[Kajsa]

59. You describe my situation.

Even though I live in " sunny SoCal", my rental house
was built in the 40's with NO insulation anywhere.

My living room ceiling consists of 3/4 wood panel, no attic space,
with roof shingles on the other side!

It's friggin freezing at night.
This morning the living room temp. was 58 degrees.

Too cold for me, on with the heater!

[Kali]

97. when its 80 or above then they will want the air conditioning at 62.

That is what my kids would do. I walked in on one of them and the wall heater was blasting - I admit it felt nice, but there she was reading a book in a tee shirt with her bare feet up on the table. aaarrrggghhh If it warm enough for you to go barefoot and no sweater then TURN IT OFF!!!!!

Went and bought the kids cheap wall thermometers and highlighted 66 on them. No subjective arguments. The heaters go off when it gets above that. And if you go to school and forget to turn them off you lose a night of heat! I think they got it.

[Mojambo]

5. I know!

I just moved into a room in a house with some people and it's always set at 62. We had that cold snap a couple weeks back when it dropped down to the low teens and I begged them to turn it up.

It's now set at 65, but I don't care cause I got a space heater for just my room and I'm all toasty now.

I still can't spend more than an hour in the common room before my hands and nose get all cold.

I don't know how these other guys can do it. They're walking around in t-shirts with no socks on!

[radfringe]

6. we do

but we also get the woodstove roaring.

Our heating system is oil. Gas heat is not available in our area except through propane delivery and that's more expensive than oil in these parts.

Forget converting to coal - installing a coal furnace is out of our budget, and to get hot water in the summer you have to have the furnace going on high or install an electric water water. Plus you either have to shovel the coal directly into the furnace or get a automatic feed hopper and that has to be kept full too. Not to mention there's no place to dump a few ton of coal.

Last year we had about 200gal delivered in October. With 6 cords of wood put up, and using the woodstove when we are home, we heated the house through mid-march. at that time we ran out of wood, and needed another oil delivery.

this year we've put up 9 cords of wood, and have about 250/gal of oil. Since mid-october, and thanks to the mild weather (until this week) we've only gone through a cord of wood.

[trogdor]

25. 200 gal. for the season?

You must not live in the Northeast. We burn up something like 500 gal. a season, and people tell us that's good.

I heard coal furnaces are a bitch to regulate.

[radfringe]

47. we live in NE-Corner of Pennsylvania

running the woodstove saved us alot of money on oil last year.

The house is small, but the living room has cathedral ceiling and an open loft area.

it's 12:36pm, temp outside is 38-degrees, but probably colder as the thermometer is in a bit of a sunny area. Wind is blowing, so I'm guessing the windchill puts it in the low 30's or lower

[ellie]

7. Not me!

I have the heat cranked up to 70 degrees and can walk around comfortably in shorts and a t-shirt. My feet do get a little cold though. At my mom's house, the temperature is 62. Too cold for me.

[Burma Jones]

8. We Do

Well, at night anyway. Daytime we're at 65. I suggest you move to Arizona.

[RebelOne]

9. Actually, 62 degrees is a very comfortable temperature for me.

I hate heat. And 62 is not cold at all.

[noonwitch]

27. Me, too, I'm a 42 year old woman, it takes a lot for me to be cold.

My anemic sister always turns up my thermostat when she comes for a visit. I am not uncomfortable, and if I'm cooking or baking anything, the temp goes up anyways.

[KitchenWitch]

118. Another walking hotflash here!

I am 42 as well.

[billyskank]

10. Who the hell moans about it being cold when wearing T shirt and shorts?

Really, wear sensible clothes for the temp and you might not be so cold.

[PVnRT]

17. Gonna have to agree here

Get some sweatpants if you don't like wearing jeans.

[Momgonepostal]

79. I agree...even though that still seems cold

OK 62 degrees is cold, but put on some clothes for crying out loud. That's like griping about being hungry when there's a plate of food in front of you.

The OP didn't give her age, so maybe she's a minor, but maybe it's time to find new digs.

[BlueStorm]

90. I am 26 years olds and on disability..

I am living with my father right now as subsisidized housing and Section 8 are backed up and no housing is available at this time.

Blue

[Momgonepostal]

99. Ah, OK

I spent my teen years freezing at home because my mom 1) was trying to save money and 2) was going through menopause. Our house felt like a meat locker! I wore sweats at home in the winter, including to bed.

I went to see her a couple of days ago, and now that she's not only done with hot flashes, but on a blood thinner that makes her feel cold, the temp was set to 72. It was a little too hot for me, personally. And she was shivering.

I'm sympathetic to your situation, but also kind of feel that the guy who pays the bill should have final say.

And we turn our heat down to below 62 at night.

[Deja Q]

11. What, not at fucking 69 degrees?

:rofl:



:yoiks:

[Theduckno2]

12. Two words...... Waffle Weave!

Get some long underwear.

Helpful hint : in time buy some jeans a size larger to accomodate the increased fabric.

My hallway thermostat is currently reading 60 degrees.

[crim son]

13. I do.

Even though I hate the cold I'm starting to get used to the chilly house. I wear layers of clothing and giant fuzzy pink slippers. Not only am I warm, but I look MAGNIFICENT!

[SPKrazy]

127. Oh, I'm Picturing This Now!

giant fuzzy pink slippers

now who says you aren't just HAWT in those things?

;-)


There are good things about living in the south after all, while it gets cold sometimes, it isn't usually very cold or for very long.

:woohoo:

[theophilus]

14. I do. It's usually set on 58. Set it lower than you like and you'll get

used to it. If catastrophic climate change keeps going you might be living in a hole in the ground covered by sticks. 62 sounds good to me and I applaud your Dad. I have been healthier and happier since I started setting my thermo down. Try it for a couple months and you will be, too. Wear some light gloves and quit bitchin'.

[AirmensMom]

15. That's what they make sweaters for.

And long underwear (silk ones are very light-weight and warm). I just moved from FL to TN, so I understand not wanting clothes on every part of my body. But it becomes necessary in this part of the country. Put some clothes on and you'll be more comfortable. And/or get a hot drink and snuggle up with a blanket or pet or both.

Kudos to your dad for trying to save electricity. Perhaps you could offer to pay some of the electric bill if he would give you a few extra degrees on the temp.

[GoneOffShore]

16. I do even though I don't have to

I'm just more comfortable at a lower temperature. We wear sweaters and always put on the sheep skin slippers. Besides it makes the cats cuddlier.

No big deal to put on a sweater.

[miss_american_pie]

18. Whoever pays the bills

[1gobluedem]

19. I do. It's much healthier

I lower it to 58 at night and I usually crack the window open too when I sleep. And I never get sick.

Buy some lightweight baggy sweatpants and a long sleeved t-shirt, wear some socks, and you'll be fine.

[NMDemDist2]

20. our house is in the 60s in the morning until the sun warms it up

current outside temp -- 29

current inside temp -- 65 and that's only because the sun has been up for an hour, it was 62 when i got up

I have on socks, yoga pants, a tee shirt, a flannel shirt and my fleece robe over the top. i'm warm enough

shorts and a t-shirt are not suggested winter lounge wear

just saying.... :shrug:

[acmavm]

21. 62 OR 64 (if I think it's especially cold in the house) is the max

that my thermostat is allowed to be cranked.

There's no reason for it to be up any higher. I make the kid put on a sweater and if he's watching tv he can put a blanket over him.

[Nye Bevan]

22. My parents kept the house colder than that at night

when I was a kid. I think their rationale was, why spend money on heat when using blankets is free?

Getting up for school in the winter was *not* fun. I couldn't wait to eat my hot bowl of Ready Brek (oatmeal) to start to warm up.

[zanne]

23. I keep my house at 65 degrees.

Anything higher than that is uncomfortably warm for me.

[Madrone]

26. Sounds like you just left my mother's.

When I was a small child I SWORE that when I became an adult, no matter how poor I may be, I would NOT fucking freeze another day for the rest of my life! I feel your pain. :hug:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

28. I lived without central heating in Tokyo, where it got down to 25 degrees

at night.

The keys to survival were layers, hot liquids, and that wonderful Japanese invention known as the kotatsu, a table with a heating element and quilts.

[MissMillie]

29. only at night when everyone's in bed

when everyone's under the covers, you can turn the heat down that low.

When everyone's under the covers together, you can turn it down even lower.

[dad]

30. Sure as hell not me

71 or 72 seem to be working for me this winter. :7 :7

[TommyO]

31. Not me - mine is at 64 degrees!

Lower at night. If I'm feeling really chilly after waking up from underneath my woozy down comforter, I may bump it up to 68 for about half an hour before lowering it back down. Fortunately, I have plenty of south-east facing windows and get plenty of morning sun - that helps warm things up nicely as well.

[mainegreen]

32. Most people I know do.

The parent-in-laws keep their house around 60 on the first floor and 55 on the second.

[zingaro]

33. We keep ours at 64.

Anyone who visits is usually chilly, especially my sister whose husband insists on keeping their thermostat at 78, but we're comfortable. Even the kids.

[Deep13]

34. A friend of mine keeps hers at 58 F.

It is supposed to be cold in winter and ones body adjusts. What is not healthy is the constant change from 70 F indoors to cold outdoors. That is a shock to the system. A friend of mine grew up in a house that was heated with electric wall units. They heated the room they were in, but not the house generally. He told me that in winter, he pissed on ice every morning.

[Kashka-Kat]

35. GET FLEECE PJs

Get fleece or thermal anything. Down booties. . You can be comfortable AND warm at the same time you knoww... be creative!!! Fleece PJ bottoms can be worn like pants but are much more comfortable for around the house. T shirt and shorts, well jeez, what do you expect...

Or you might want to move to Costa Rica!

[crispini]

36. Me.

Wear a hat. 80% of the heat in your body escapes through your head. I wear a hat around the house all winter.

[hedgehog]

42. I second that notion.

It's really incredible how much warmer you can be just by wearing a hat.

[Connonym]

37. Last week I reset the thermostat to go down to 55 at night

The next morning the hamster was dead. In his honor the house is now 64 degrees.

[crispini]

46. Ok, I am sorry for your loss.

But just the way you put that.... Bwahahahhahahahhaha!

[Nye Bevan]

53. Hamsters die when it gets below 55?

Must be tough for them in the wild.

[Madrone]

67. Are you SURE he was dead?

Hamsters go into hibernation when it gets too cold. If you warm them up again they come right back to life.

I've had this happen before.

[Connonym]

70. Oh god, seriously?

He was stiff and certainly looked dead. Oh shit, now I have to go search the garbage can...but it was really, really cold outside so he's most certainly dead now. I feel awful.

[Connonym]

73. I think I'm guilty of hamstericide

The garbagemen have already come. In retrospect it occurs to me that while he was stiff he was not as stiff as other dead hamsters in the past. Seriously, I feel really, really guilty.

[Madrone]

76. I know how you feel...

and my heart goes out to you. Try not to beat yourself up - you didn't know, and sometimes we humans make mistakes. If he was hibernating and has frozen to death since then he definitely didn't feel a thing. He just went to sleep and won't wake up.

[uppityperson]

112. I had these guilts once with gerbils.

Found both my gerbils dead 1 night. I lived out in the woods so put them out in the snow in the woods. Woke that night thinking "maybe they weren't dead" and searched for where I put them and couldn't find them and felt so guilty for so many yrs. Like 20 yrs now. I am sure they were dead, as you were, but still. It is ok since they most likely were, but wanted to share that you weren't alone in this.

[Connonym]

120. Thank you for sharing that

I do feel so incredibly guilty, like I have no business having pets. I very possibly put a living thing into a garbage can. It was bad enough that I didn't realize the danger of the cold but then to not realize that it may have actually still been alive. I had an obligation to him and I really blew it. It's hard to deal with that.

[Madrone]

75. I ALMOST didn't post that...

Because I was afraid that might have been the case... I didn't want to traumatize you. But - if you get another hamster you need to know, so I went ahead and posted it.

Yeah, I'm serious.

[Connonym]

78. I'm glad you did

I feel just awful but yes, I needed to know that for if we get another hamster. Thanks for telling me. I should have thought of that and I feel so horrid.

[LSK]

38. I keep mine at 67

65 when Im not home.

Maybe when I win the lottery I will have it at a balmy 72 but then again I wont be living where it gets cold.

[Broken_Hero]

39. I do

we have a wood stove, and I keep it around 60-65 during the day, and about an hour before my wife comes home, I start stoking it a bit more, and get it up to 70 before she gets home...I'm from Alaska, and the cold doesn't bother me much that much, but she is a different story...:D

[NewWaveChick1981]

40. My mother keeps her house on 80 year round...

Which means that it's stuffy and sweltering year round. :yoiks: My in-laws, however, keep the thermostat on 60 year round. I say a happy medium would be 70... :P

[undeterred]

43. lots of people, including my mother

On holidays she still keeps it at 63 and all her guests are miserable.

[grasswire]

44. something occurred to me

You say that you aren't comfortable wearing long pants in the house.

Well, it appears that you aren't comfortable wearing shorts, either!

[BlueStorm]

63. There is something that I don't like about wearing long pants

in the house, it just feels, I don't know, weird to me.

Blue

[SacredCow]

45. I keep mine fairly chilly....

mostly because turning on the heat dries my sinuses out terribly. If I set the thermostat to 78° I would bleed to death from my nose (as unpleasant as that sounds...)

[ileus]

48. I keep my heat set to where I can wear shorts and tee...

What good is home if you can't be comfortable. And comfort for me is shorts and a T-Shirt. It was 14f last night outside and 71 inside.

[chaska]

58. Have you seen Al Gore's movie?

[BlueStorm]

62. I actually haven't seen that movie yet but everyone on here says it

is real good.

Blue

[mockmonkey]

49. 70

But we have the living room sealed off and have a space heater in there where the thermostat is so it is much colder in the other rooms. Any colder than 70 and I would need to wear a ski mask and I'm not about to do that. Don't peoples faces get cold?

[Patiod]

50. Non-smokers who are trying to air out their smokey SO's

Our place is always freezing, because it's either freezing in clean air or warm and smokey.

[Patiod]

51. Non-smokers who are trying to air out their smokey SO's

Our place is always freezing, because it's either freezing in clean air or warm and smokey.

[liontamer]

52. people who don't want to waste energy

I hate being cold, but I keep my house at a lower temperature than I prefer in the winter and just bundle up a bit more. 62 degrees isn't freezing, and if you were wearing long sleeves, you would be fine. The environmental impact of hyper heating your home is way larger than that of making a single bathrobe to wrap yourself in.

http://www.slate.com/id/2151795/

edited to add a link

[chaska]

54. Hey GOP, look at all us shivering Dems. One day we will come for you. Barbecued pug. Mmmm.

[Dukkha]

55. my pet bugs are warmer than me

they get heat lamps in their cages because I can afford to keep them warm. my cats however spend most of their time in my bed covers. heating bills are just too much.

[jus_the_facts]

56. I'd rather put on layers and keep it set at 55 ...my sinuses go nuts when I use central heat...

....I turn it as far down as it will go at night as I can't sleep at all if it runs...electric heaters make me feel like I'm smothering...I only turn it above 60 in the morning to take the chill off then turn it back down to the lowest setting...works for me.

[uppityperson]

57. easier and cheaper to heat me than all this space.

besides, adapting ourselves is better for the environment that trying to adapt the environment. AND, what does it being colder out have to do with it being the same temp inside? Here's and idea, go run around outside in your uncomfortable shorts and t-shirt, then come inside and appreciate the warmth.

[Karenca]

60. 62, and you're frost bitten?

Get thee to a doctor immediately!

[evlbstrd]

61. I do.

If it were 62 outside, I doubt you'd complain.

[graywarrior]

64. Put some damn clothes on and have a cup of ginger tea.

[BlueStorm]

65. Well reading this was quite an experience...

I am a bit hurt by some of the posters' responses regarding the idea of putting on clothes. Let me explain something: I am autistic, I have sensitive tactile issues, certain fabrics are hard for me to tolerate, such as stiff material like jeans. I also do not like the feel of fleece. Also wearing long pants make me feel like I am "restrained" I guess is the best word I can describe it. I know this may seem strange to you but this is my reality. I don't want anyone to tell me to "get used it" "Get over it." etc. It's not something that is easily conquerable.

I do have a blanket that I wrap myself in when I watch TV or read, I also have some knitted booties that my mom gave to me.

I realize that most of you are trying to give me advice and I appreciate it but the tone is what bothers me. Sorry if I make anyone mad by this post but I just felt I had to explain something.

Blue

[uppityperson]

68. thank you for the explanation which changes much.

explaining circumstances does help understand where you are coming from, good to read why. Rather than sounding like a whiney person, you sound like someone with real issues about staying warm and I hope the best for you.

Rather than upping the central heating, how about keeping 1 room warm with a room heater?

Edited to add, reminder to self, do not assume someone is just being whiney but remember it is ok to ask questions rather than assume.

[BlueStorm]

69. I am thinking of buying a space heater...

I know Aldi sells one and if it's within my budget I could get one. I don't know how the electric bill would look with that going so I am leery. My dad's central is electric rather than gas propelled.

Yes I know I should have added something about my issues but I wasn't thinking about it at the time I posted.

Blue

[uppityperson]

72. buy an oilfilled radiator, portable, hardware stores, Target, etc have them

they run $40-250, don't blow air but use electricity to warm the oil and radiant heats the room. We have used these and they are much lower cost than plain space heater to operate, and much safer. I have been able to find them for $50.

Here is a picture of one. Do a search for oil radiator.

[BlueStorm]

91. Maybe next month I will try and get one of those

However I will probably have to wait until next fall to get one. My budget is very tight as being on disability doesn't give you much wiggle room as far as finances go.

Blue

[uppityperson]

92. ask for 1 for christmas.

they are in most hardware stores now, home depot, target, even riteaid I think. Will be hard to find once weather gets warm, are out seasonally.

[BlueStorm]

95. No one will get it for me...

Everyone is pretty much broke. Sad, but it"s true.

Blue

[Momgonepostal]

100. Do you have a Freecycle group in your area?

www.Freecycle.org

It's worth a shot. There maybe someone gettign rid of a heater.

[BlueStorm]

105. Thanks, I will check it out. n/t

[Kali]

101. Just do NOT run those on high. Low and the dial about midway is good.

Get a thermometer for the room so you can see what the real temp is. Our perception is not reliable. if you are sitting still you will feel much colder than if you move around a bit. And you might be quite warm if you move around vigorously. (another alternative to adding layers of clothing)

If you run one of these oil heaters with both switches on it is the same as 15 100watt lightbulbs. It WILL use real amounts of electricity.


Also I had a bad experience running one on high - it melted the cord and almost set the house on fire. I sill like them though and use on in the bathroom. (on LOW!)

[eauclaireliberal]

109. NO!!! ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!

I'm serious sis, don't use those damn things-they are practically a death sentence. Every year there has to be a thousand fires due to space heaters. The companies that make those are well aware of the safety hazards they present but guess what-they still make them.

An electric blanket is safer. Two layers of clothes even better. It is now 4 degrees in Western Wisco...believe me, I know.

[uppityperson]

113. that is why we got several of these oil radiators.

they are much safer, though still I make sure they are away from everything. Our alternative was to use an electric forced air thing that had mice in the ducts (think hantavirus).

[Zookeeper]

71. Have you tried pants made in a light-knit...

like t-shirt fabric? Maybe yoga or track pants?

[BlueStorm]

77. I think I have a pair of yoga pants somewheres...

I'll have to dig around and find them.

Blue

[marzipanni]

107. I stood in front of this heater at Costco today-ahhhhhh, it was toasty

It's called a Presto heat dish and warms you as soon as it's on and you're in front of it. It's 1000 watts, and so uses 1/3 less electricity than the usual 1500 watt heaters. It costs $57.99, and I'm thinking about saving up for one.
We have one of the oil-filled radiator type heaters for the bathroom, but it takes a while to heat up that small room.
My house has a little wood stove and no insulation, but here, near Sacramento California, the dog's outside water bowl only has a layer of ice in the a.m. a few times each winter. When it's 40-ish and foggy outside in the evening, we have a fire in the stove.

[Samurai_Writer]

66. We keep ours at 50!

And it was -15 here Sunday morning. You just get used to using space heaters in bedrooms and wearing lots of clothes inside. And I just moved here from South Florida last year. If I can get used to the cold, anyone can.

[pitohui]

74. that would be poor people such as myself

put some clothes on, clothes are free from freecycle or cheap from the thrift store, overheating the house costs hundreds a month

heh, reading your explanation, all i can say is, entertain your dad at your place, but i think he has to set the thermostat at a price he can afford at his place, 64 degrees is just not unreasonable

[Rockstone]

80. "Put on a sweater" my parents always said,,,

[Roon]

81. My Grandfather during the depression used to take a brick

from fireplace to take to bed with him. The windows in his bedroom were so drafty that the curtains would flutter. When they were in the main room they kept their feet off the floor because it was so cold.

He was in the battle of the bulge and it was very snowy and cold then too. He said the hardest part was going poop in the snow. Can you imagine? :scared:

[Xipe Totec]

82. Me - 60, actually

if you think it's too cold, put a sweater on. We ain't about to heat the entire commonwealth of Massachusetts.

[ghostsofgiants]

83. My roommates.

x(

[leftofthedial]

84. I keep mine at 62

is that you, sweetie?

[femmocrat]

85. We keep ours at 63 when we are home, 58-60 when we go out.

The dogs have nice fluffy coats and quilted beds, so they are fine. I find that temp. perfectly comfortable, but I do wear layers and socks and slippers. And we use the oil-filled radiators (space heaters) in some of the rooms.

My problem is at work.... why is it so blasted hot at work!!! I wear a sleeveless top and open the windows and I'm still suffocating in there. And the schools are always crying about money.... for crying out loud, turn down the heat! The kids are all bundled up in sweats and hoodies... they won't mind.

[Scooter24]

86. We keep ours at about 74...

during the night and during the day turn it down to 68-70 depending on the temperature outside.

With 2 central AC units among other things, our electric bill averages about $1300 a month for a 4500 sq. ft. home during the winter.

[BlueStorm]

87. Well it is the night after my OP

It's 25 degrees outside and 62 inside. I am wrapped up in my throw blanket and drinking a cup of warm chai tea. I got on my knitted booties that my mom made me and I'M STILL FREEZING!!!!

It's the damn draft that keeps coming through the kitchen from God knows where.

I can't seem to find my yoga pants though.

Blue

I had to microwave my chai tea, the milk made it get lukewarm.

On edit again, maybe I will find my Islamic prayer garmet and put that on, at least I will be warm.

[Porcupine]

88. Make a microwavable warmng pillow.

Get a pair of small womans or large kids pants. Cut the legs off and sew one end shut. Fill 2/3 with buckwheat, or birdseed (millet mix). Sew other end shut. Nuke for 2-5 minutes and enjoy.

Or you can buy these things for about $10. But you're broke or the heat would be on.

[uppityperson]

114. you can also use rice or beans or dried field corn (NO popcorn though)

I use a sock and dried beans. Put in microwave. Fast and easy and cheap.

[qnr]

89. Sorry, 62 sounds pretty reasonable to me. n/t

[caty]

93. Some people are

inclined to be cold and some are inclined to be warmer. Our house only has three heat vents. One in the living room, one in the dinning room, and one upstairs. We have space heaters in our bedroom, the bathroom, and the living room. We keep the temperature set at 72 during the day and 68 at night. We are comfortable with these settings and we have the lowest heat bills of any one we know. We don't use the upstairs and we close it off in the winter. The house is pretty well insulated. My doctor told me once that if you can touch your face and your hands feel cold--turn up the heat. This was after my third case of pneumonia from keeping the house too cold.

[NNadir]

94. Your dad is conserving energy. This is a good thing to do.

Be like Jimmy Carter and wear a sweater.

[unsavedtrash]

96. we keep the temp around 60 to 63 degrees when we are home.

It goes down to 58 or so when we are out.

[BlueStorm]

98. I think I found a solution

Please don"t laugh.

I have found my Islamic prayer dress. It"s not perfect but it sorta works. Though my hands are cold.

Here's what I look like without it:





And here's the dress thing:





It's a two piece, a headdress and a skirt.

Oh and my knitted footies!!! Can't forget those:



Like I said it seems to work a bit, keeping my arms and legs warm, though my fingers are still ice cold. I have no gloves.

Blue

[Kali]

102. You look great. The head covering will help a lot - you lose a lot of heat through the top of your

head. *she says typing with cold hands and NO HAT*

Inshalah!

[NMDemDist2]

104. exactly! when I used to snow ski a lot the rule of thumb was

if your feet are cold, put on your hat!

worked every time

[BlueStorm]

106. This is what I used to wear to the mosque

when I was in my Islam phase. I still have an assortment of head coverings and niqaabs. The niqaabs do help with warming your face, plus it's not as uncomfortable as wearing a ski mask.

Blue

[uppityperson]

115. Excellent, I like that fabric also.

There is a reason to wear coverings beyond so no one can see you. They can keep you cool or warm as well as being nice and loose/nonbinding.

[pitohui]

128. hey glad for the update

i'm a high functioning autistic supposedly and when lounging about the house i noticed i often liked to wrap myself in blankies rather than getting properly dressed too but i did not know it was any part of the autistic pattern, i just thought it was me

in any case the wrap is pretty nifty

can't stand gloves either altho they're a necessary evil in some circumstance, i don't think 64 degrees fahrenheit is one of those circumstances tho :-)

[Radical Activist]

103. I keep it at 62-65 right now.

If its really that cold outside, then 62 seems warm. Plus, my gas bill is outrageous this time of year.

I wear sweatpants and a sweater in the house and feel just fine.

[eauclaireliberal]

108. These days, you have to keep it as low as tolerable

With our illustrious monkey-oil-man in charge, energy prices are at an all time high (reasonable at election time of course). I've got one of the oldest houses in the area, so its takes heating oil. I wanted to switch to natural gas, but to set it up costs money I won't have for another 3 or so years. So in the meantime I wear long-johns to bed and cover up with two comforters and a fleece blanket. Four cats and a warm woman are great as well.

ALWAYS keep socks on indoors, the thicker the better. And yah, you are going to have to ditch the shorts and t-shirts and wear some sweat clothes while lounging about inside.

[astral]

110. Me.

62 is my comfort zone. 64 and I start to feeling too hot. Of course I wear flannel pajamies and big socks and a big long scarf. Actually my thermostat's set to 62 but it turned 64 in here right now.

[KitchenWitch]

111. I used to keep the house at 60 in Minnesota

:hi:

Blankets, and warm jammies!

[BlueStorm]

116. I love my mom's house

She has that steam generated heating system, you know the ones with the accordian looking radiators (she calls them registers). She can have the heat on for only three hours and it would go from 70 degrees to 85 in that short period. She has to turn it off by then and she tells me that it stays warm throughout the night.

God I envy her.

She also says her bills are low.

Blue

[Zookeeper]

117. Steam radiators are the best....

They give off a nice steady heat and don't dry out the air like forced air furnaces.

[likesmountains 52]

119. 50 at night...crank it up to 60 once in the morning, once in the evening...

[AbbyR]

121. I can't afford to turn the heat on

I'm living in my bedroom with a small space heater and I don't take off three layers until I'm under two quilts. I'll just have to be cold this winter because I cannot afford a heating bill.

[BlueStorm]

122. Seems like everyone is in the same boat as me....

I was in an Oriental shop looking for some may chang and this shop had some kind of infrared fan that was so nice and warm... It cost $90.00 and I have no money :grr:

Blue

[laundry_queen]

123. The outside temperature does make a difference.

After reading some of the responses, I just had to add this in. We had a cold snap last week of close to -40, plus wind chill. We had the thermostat set to 70 during the day and 68 at night. We were all wearing long pants, sweaters, thick socks, slippers, drinking hot tea, and we were all freezing! This week, we are dealing with record highs, above freezing, and the temp is now turned down to 65 and we are walking around in shorts and t-shirts. It was so hot at night, even with the temp turned way down, that dh and I opened a window in our room and the heat still didn't come on all night. I'd turn off the heat at night all together if it weren't for the kids. We have a fairly energy efficient house and it retains heat well until that -40 wind kicks in.

[mopinko]

124. my fibro kicked in this week for the same reason.

i was the one who set it so low. i am a cheapskate. but it really set me flaring. i was a wreck. i had to turn it up. i had been doing pretty well, too.

[BlueStorm]

125. Mine has been kicking in since the weather got cold.

I wake up feeling like my legs are going to snap. Today I went around all day feeling so-so, then I went to my mom's house and then, bam!! I get a headache.


Blue

[Hibernias Daughter]

126. I let it get that cold sometimes

colder even. But only because I'm feeling too lazy to build a fire, or I let the one I have go out. We only have wood heat. Good excuse to just pile on the covers and read. :-)

[UrbScotty]

129. I crack my window open a little before I go to bed

Yes, even when it's freezing.