STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

KaffeeKlatsch · Marc Jacobs

Fear of heating costs?

kenzie · Chanel

Oh, yeah. My mom and I were just discussing this over the weekend. She got a decent raise over the summer and she said that heating costs were just going to eat that all up.

jacL · Coach

Where do you live? It may differ by state, but in Wisconsin, I was pretty sure your gas could not be turned off during certain winter months. Have you tried working out a payment plan with your gas and electric company? I heard that electric rates were also going to rise, though not nearly as much--have you ever used an electric space heater? I used to use a small fan-type space heater and now I have a larger radiator-type one, and it can heat my entire bedroom. You will have to figure out the costs, but it may help to buy some of these. When I was a little girl, some of them were very unsafe, but they are pretty safe now, even with small children, like, they turn off if knocked over, etc. I also like how they are portable so you can take them with you from room to room.

Elle · Hermes

I second JacL about contacting the gas company - there are also organizations that can assist you with your gas bills through the winter. They probably have a link to it on your local news channel.

kenzie · Chanel

I agree, contact your gas company, they should work out a payment plan. Also, definitely try a space heater. Make sure you get one that's not a fire hazzard, though! I use a space heater all the time. Electricity is cheaper than gas right now!

JMR · Dooney & Bourke

terrified!! Last year our bills were $400 a month give or take - that was with both of us gone all day and turning the heat down to 58 when we were gone - 62 when we were home. Now that I am home all the time with the baby - I can't even imagine what it is going to be...not to mention we are living on one income now.

erin · Chanel

i'm pretty uneasy about the upcoming bills. ours were 2-300$ last year, and it's already starting to feel cold. (it is cold here pretty much from oct/nov to april)

our windows are TERRIBLE and i wanted to get all new windows this summer, but then my car died and i needed to get a new car, so our money went there. i am hoping putting plastic up will help a lot!

gruiz · Kenneth Cole

I just ordered a cord of wood in anticipation of the high heating costs. I'm hoping to turn the heat WAY down and see how well the fireplace heats the house.

JMR · Dooney & Bourke

gruiz wrote:

I just ordered a cord of wood in anticipation of the high heating costs. I'm hoping to turn the heat WAY down and see how well the fireplace heats the house.

Just be careful with that - the truth is a fireplace eats up the hot air!!

alb · Marc Jacobs

We got these things called draft blockers last winter. They are like long cylinder bean bag things that you put on your window sill to block out the draft from the cracks in the window. They are not the most attractive things, but they really made our bedroom a lot warmer so it was worth it. If anyone wants to know more about it let me know. I think we got them at Improvements catalog. They had them at Bed Bath, but all the decent looking neutral colors were sold out.

sage · Dooney & Bourke

I remember when I was a kid we heated the whole house with the fireplace, but it wasnt just the regular open space, there was something that looked like a woodstove stuck in it. I think it was called an insert. Or that is what my father called it. It worked so well it was impossible to sit in the living room sometimes.

And I second the space heater idea. We heat with electricity only. I despise doling out the money to the power company but I think I would prefer that over the oil. They are all evil empires

nunzi182 · Kate Spade

I know this may not be an affordable option right now, but in the long run I think it is very cost effective. Have you considered getting a wood pellet stove? They use these little pellets to heat up the house and man do they get hot! They can truly heat up the whole house for about a bag or two a day. And you can get bags for about $2 to $3.