Since the cold(er) weather is quickly approaching, if not already beginning to settle in, I thought maybe I’d talk about heat. Specifically, heating our humble abodes.

Gas and electric companies always seem to be crying hard times and raising our rates even though just about everyone I know is crabbing about their bills! So, in an effort to save some moola this winter, try lowering the temperature in the house a couple of degrees. We have a digital thermostat that does a very good job of regulating the temperature in our house. And with good insulation, it’s even better. We have the temperature set at 68 degrees right now, but even during the winter we don’t usually set it above 70.

Whenever we get together with friends or family and we’re just sitting around chatting (especially with the “older” crowd), the conversation never fails to include the rising cost of things. I find it slightly humorous that people are continually surprised by the fact that our heating and electric bills are lower than everyone else’s. Well, that’s because we don’t turn our house into a sauna in the wintertime. Yes, we wear sweaters and socks or slippers in the house, but we’re comfortable that way. It’s not as if we’re huddled in front of a tiny space heater under 15 layers of clothing and blankets just trying to save a few bucks. Our bills have been $75, $100, or more, lower than some of the people we know. Talk about being surprised!

True story: A couple of friends were complaining about how high their bills were during the winter. Then we went to their house for a small gathering – and nearly suffocated! We were dressed in jeans and sweatshirts, but we were greeted at the door by our friends wearing shorts and T-shirts! No joke! The house was so warm that they actually dressed as if they were headed to the beach. I’m not saying you should have the temperature so low that you can see your breath in the house, but holy cow! Really???

So . . . Don’t think it matters? Guess again. The warmer you have the house, the more your furnace kicks on to maintain that temperature. The more it works to keep your house warm, the more energy (gas and electricity) you use. The more energy you use, the higher your bills will be throughout the winter.

So before you crank up the heat, think about setting the temperature slightly lower and dressing for the season. Try a few different settings, and maybe even dropping the temp a little lower at night. I’m not talking 10 degrees, I’m talking 2 or 3 depending on where you normally have it set. Hey, I’m all for comfort, but I’d like to be able to afford food, too. And I happen to like sweaters . . .