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brewens

(15,359 posts)
Fri Oct 8, 2021, 05:25 AM Oct 2021

It's time for the thermal undies and socks again. I stay nice and cozy and save money on my heat

bill by wearing those all the time in the cold months. Costco sells good thermal underwear for about $18 a pair. They are so comfortable I even use them as jammies when it gets really cold.

My other trick is one of those oil radiator style space heaters. If it's not real cold, all I need is that a few inches from my feet when I'm in the sweet spot on my recliner couch. I just have a couple electric heater units that are not really in the right place, that waste lot if that's all I had.

I'm retired and have a small apartment. I cook and bake a lot too, so that also helps keep it nice in here.

25 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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It's time for the thermal undies and socks again. I stay nice and cozy and save money on my heat (Original Post) brewens Oct 2021 OP
Of move to Florida and save that 18 bucks. jimfields33 Oct 2021 #1
What are ya, one of DeSantis' guys? Trying to lure me there to die? Nice try Skippy! LOL n/t brewens Oct 2021 #3
Lol. Yieks. jimfields33 Oct 2021 #6
Yup... I never had my central heat up higher than 55F all last winter--in Colorado hlthe2b Oct 2021 #2
I do the fleece too. I have all kinds of sweats. I like pullover hoodies. n/t brewens Oct 2021 #5
I like it cold, but sometimes go a little overboard and wake in the night in a freezing room. Scrivener7 Oct 2021 #4
One thing that helped is my CPAP machine for sleeping in the cold. I think breathing the cold brewens Oct 2021 #7
That works, too. True Blue American Oct 2021 #14
Use caution. Wrap a pillow case or bedsheet around Tetrachloride Oct 2021 #20
I have had one for years. True Blue American Oct 2021 #24
Cold last week and warm this week. mgardener Oct 2021 #8
It is almost time here OldBaldy1701E Oct 2021 #9
It is time. I'm a bit of a polar bear, so I keep it cool as well. paleotn Oct 2021 #10
I have never understood heating (or cooling) the whole house cyclonefence Oct 2021 #11
I'n Florida it's a humidity issue. Phoenix61 Oct 2021 #12
You can probably experiment with a lower temperature. Tetrachloride Oct 2021 #21
Yup. 2naSalit Oct 2021 #13
We're in Wisconsin and haven't had to fire up the boiler yet. ewagner Oct 2021 #15
Be careful with the electric heaters, gab13by13 Oct 2021 #16
I agree about the cooking and baking in winter. 70sEraVet Oct 2021 #17
Yep! Richluu Oct 2021 #18
Electric heat DownriverDem Oct 2021 #19
Down comforter, long johns, dogs and cats. Tetrachloride Oct 2021 #22
Yes I do the same, my thermostat stays at 62 all winter long FakeNoose Oct 2021 #23
Just heard a news story this morning Dreampuff Oct 2021 #25

jimfields33

(19,214 posts)
1. Of move to Florida and save that 18 bucks.
Fri Oct 8, 2021, 05:32 AM
Oct 2021

You are welcome with arms wide open. We need more progressives here.

hlthe2b

(106,571 posts)
2. Yup... I never had my central heat up higher than 55F all last winter--in Colorado
Fri Oct 8, 2021, 05:44 AM
Oct 2021

But, it is fleece for me. I have light fleece, medium fleece and super-duper heavy fleece. Layering is part of living in Colorado. Even now, it is in the upper 30s - low 50s in the morning, but can be still rise to the mid-upper 80s in the afternoon.

Space heaters do boost the electrical bill, certainly, but not like trying to heat large areas with central heat.

Scrivener7

(53,038 posts)
4. I like it cold, but sometimes go a little overboard and wake in the night in a freezing room.
Fri Oct 8, 2021, 06:11 AM
Oct 2021

Instead of a space heater, I just put a heating pad under the covers. Works great, less chance of fire.

 

brewens

(15,359 posts)
7. One thing that helped is my CPAP machine for sleeping in the cold. I think breathing the cold
Fri Oct 8, 2021, 06:15 AM
Oct 2021

air, even though it wasn't that cold, cause my sinuses to stuff up sometimes. Never happens now. The CPAP warms and humidifies the air.

Tetrachloride

(8,478 posts)
20. Use caution. Wrap a pillow case or bedsheet around
Fri Oct 8, 2021, 08:04 AM
Oct 2021

Last edited Fri Oct 8, 2021, 10:13 AM - Edit history (1)

electric blankets or pads. This might reduce stray voltage.


Another way is to turn on the pad for 20 minutes before using. The bed gets warm and over the night you are in natural sleep temperature.


Edit: and then turn it off

mgardener

(1,900 posts)
8. Cold last week and warm this week.
Fri Oct 8, 2021, 06:27 AM
Oct 2021

We have not had a frost yet. When we first moved here we had an occasional frost in early Sept.
We layer up too.
And wear good slippers.
I find myself drinking lots of herbal tea during the winter.

OldBaldy1701E

(6,482 posts)
9. It is almost time here
Fri Oct 8, 2021, 06:39 AM
Oct 2021

Time for me to sit wrapped like a mummy in blankets and weep because I am still stuck up here by the Canadian border when I want to be anywhere that only dips below freezing like maybe four times a year. Gods, I hate the cold.

paleotn

(19,374 posts)
10. It is time. I'm a bit of a polar bear, so I keep it cool as well.
Fri Oct 8, 2021, 06:44 AM
Oct 2021

I don't mind the changing seasons. Winter has its place and its wonders, just like Spring, Summer and Fall.

cyclonefence

(4,873 posts)
11. I have never understood heating (or cooling) the whole house
Fri Oct 8, 2021, 06:44 AM
Oct 2021

when you're living in only two or three rooms. I put window a/c units in all bedrooms, and I'd put individual heaters if anybody ever came here in the winter time. I keep the thermostat at 62 in the winter (I used to just turn the heat off completely but then one day I woke up to frozen pipes), and offer sweaters and throws to anyone who complains.

Phoenix61

(17,704 posts)
12. I'n Florida it's a humidity issue.
Fri Oct 8, 2021, 06:53 AM
Oct 2021

If you don’t want your clothes to mold in the closet it’s a necessary evil.

Tetrachloride

(8,478 posts)
21. You can probably experiment with a lower temperature.
Fri Oct 8, 2021, 08:06 AM
Oct 2021

my indoor temperature can be about 40-45 F before the pipes froze under the sink.

2naSalit

(93,100 posts)
13. Yup.
Fri Oct 8, 2021, 07:06 AM
Oct 2021

I moved to a new apartment in June, had to put some stuff in storage until I find a new place. I had planned well, I found, when I packed the storage by putting winter wear in last so I could find it easily.

I don't know what part of the state you're in but I'm in the south, used to be up around 7000ft, and we had snow at 7500ft two weeks ago. I have collected a lot of winter wear over the years, some things last a long time, like a down jacket or coat for every occasion all the way up to an arctic snowmobile suit that's good at -50F (I tested it).

Costco is good with some of the layers, I really like the wool sock bundles and the down vests.

Layers are the way to go, and the more you can keep your body in motion, the warmer you'll be.

Stay warm, we're getting our first real taste of winterness this week.





ewagner

(18,967 posts)
15. We're in Wisconsin and haven't had to fire up the boiler yet.
Fri Oct 8, 2021, 07:31 AM
Oct 2021

A few nights in the 40s but the house stayed above the 67 the thermos were set at...


Unseasonably warm..very unusual

70sEraVet

(4,196 posts)
17. I agree about the cooking and baking in winter.
Fri Oct 8, 2021, 07:39 AM
Oct 2021

We have a gas oven, so it is cheap to run.
In the summer, I try not to use the oven at all; I have become very efficient at cooking meals on the outdoor gas grill.

FakeNoose

(35,898 posts)
23. Yes I do the same, my thermostat stays at 62 all winter long
Fri Oct 8, 2021, 08:48 AM
Oct 2021

... but I'll stay nice and warm in my long johns, and also I wear hoodies or sweaters through the winter months. I've learned to warm up the area around my computer desk with a little electric space heater occasionally. It never stays on for longer than an hour at a time though. I used to have a hot oil radiator, but it sprang a leak and I've never replaced it.

When I go to someone's house where the heat is cranked up to 70 (or higher) I can hardly breathe! I don't understand why people do that, to me the high heat is very uncomfortable.

Here's my secret: over 25 years ago I invested in a down comforter featherbed. It's so fluffy and warm, and I stay nice and warm all night long, even though my house air is a little chilly.

By the end of this month I should have the storm windows and doors in place. However my furnace hasn't come on yet because it's still rather warm here in Pittsburgh.


Dreampuff

(778 posts)
25. Just heard a news story this morning
Sat Oct 9, 2021, 02:51 PM
Oct 2021

That said heating costs will be 30% higher this year. Hopefully we will only have to kick the furnace on a few mornings. We will definitely get out heavy blankets and dress in layers. Fortunately Florida doesn't have many cold spells during the winter.

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