I am a firm believer in figuring out how to do everything in a less expensive (or no expense) way. However, my frugality does have its freakin’ limits. Last night, as I was trying to ignore the fact that I was shivering under 3 blankets, I decided that I cannot sacrifice my own physical comfort to save a few bucks. I promptly got out of bed and, quick as a flash, I bolted to the thermostat and pumped the little button up until it was set at 66 degrees. Obviously, 66 degrees is still freezing to most people, but we are in the extreme frugality club, after all. Unless we get kicked out after this post. *NAIL BITING*
Transition Months
October is a glorious month here in Pennsylvania. And I truly am disappointed in myself for not being able to make it through the other night without switching on our heat. I tried. I really did. But we had a cold snap here and temps dipped into the 40’s. We were walking around the house during the day in our sweats AND wrapped in blankets. I’m sorry, but that is not the life I want to live. Frugality is wonderful, but it does (or, maybe I should say, I do) have limits.
Every frugal nut (like me) gets giddy over the transition months that comprise Fall and Spring in seasonal locales. Why? Uh…because utility bills magically drop like a rock! This leaves frugal nuts bouncing up and down like Tigger (because that’s what frugal nuts do best) when the bill hits and there are a few extra dollars to be invested. Woot woot!
Heating & Cooling
Interestingly, even extreme frugal nut jobs value some things over cold hard cash. Examples: Warmth (maybe this is just me), nutritious foods, health, family, and friendships. As far as heating and cooling, we tend to like to feel comfortable in our home. But you must know that we’ve have come a long way, baby! There was a time that I would adjust the thermostat by 1 or 2 degrees to accommodate my tiny comfort window. These days my comfort window extends into double digits! But, double digits doesn’t mean that we can see our breath inside our house. Quite the contrary, we will not venture into the low 60’s in the winter or the high 70’s in the summer. And, this is reason #472 why having a smaller abode is the answer to living a more fulfilling and comfortable lifestyle without sacrificing necessities…like heating (or cooling)! If this one little thing is the reason I will need to work for 1 or 2 more months before early retirement (just an absolute guess, I have NO idea how much of a difference this would make in our retirement goal) then I will happily do so.
NOTE: If anyone feels like doing a calculation to figure out how much longer someone would need to work before retiring because they live at standard, comfortable temperatures…I’m all ears 🙂
In Your (Yes, You) Opinion…
It’s safe to say that the Money Monster family cannot comfortably sustain living at extreme ends of the temperature spectrum. Does YOUR frugality have limits? Where do you draw the line? Or, are Mr. Money Monster, Mini Monster, and I just being babies?
6 Comments
I am always fassinated about the cooling systems in america and how much people pay to keep the house cool. no one in my country has an cooling systems an we live fine, you actually get used to the warm temperature quickly. I just sometimes feel that modern tecnology hasnt had the best effect. Mybe it is just funny to me to spend so many hundreds of dollars to that.
I couldn’t agree with you more. I know we are spoiled in this country and take things for granted. Spending cash to keep our houses a moderate temperature does seem wasteful. Per this post, we definitely have room for improvement. *Embarrassed* Thank you for your comment!
Ha ha! Me too! I’ve tried setting my thermostat at the ideal levels…but then I sweat or I freeze and completely stop caring! Plus, I have pets. There’s nothing like seeing your Chihuahua shivering to make you want to reset your thermostat.
Awe! You have a little Chihuahua! They are too cute 🙂 Yeah, we can’t do the thermostat thing. I know it can save hundreds, or even thousands depending on your living situation, in a season, but we love being comfortable too much. It helps that we have a small house. If we were sporting a 3000+SF property, we might try it. Yikes!