[HSLINKS]

I live in Maine so right now I am trying to save on HEAT. During the night this time of year its down to 63 (later I will have to bump it up or the pipes will freeze in basement)

FURNANCE MAINTENANCE: was is cleaned recently? do you need to move furniture so vents/baseboards are clear? do you need to vac the baseboards?

WEAR LAYERS INSIDE: Everyone in the house has a vest, fleece works great .. When the kids and dh whine about the heat I remind them they have l/s flannel shirts .. I have some sweat shirts that I just cut the front (or back if it had a cute design on front) straight down, this makes like a sweater sweatshirt (*I hate feeling confined by pull over) ..
This also included FEET, yep slippers are back .. I love the slipper socks for wearing with boots etc
Those wrap around blankets, I remember those from 20 years ago <g> well they are back, I got some for everyone in the house (still gotta get one for me - since I am short may make one)

LINE YOUR CURTAINS: I have lined all the curtains at camp, and working on the ones at home with old acrylic blankets .. For some reason WM did not have any this year, finally found some on markdown at 4th store. It is worth the hassle to do it, makes a huge differance at camp (2 inch walls, crappy windows etc etc). If you don't have a sewing machine you can safety pin to the backs of your drapes.. if you have a sewing maching sew blanket to the back of the curtains .. if you can make button holes you can match them to the hook placements on drapes and slip them on .. I made NEW curtains at camp using fabric I had on hand (*sorta like pillow cases with open seam on side for the rods)

OPEN SOUTHERN CURTAINS ON SUNNY DAYS: If you aren't going to be home till after 3ish don't bother chances are the heat lost once the sun moves is going to be more than the gain during the day. Once the sun moves at my house I close down the curtains and try to keep the free heat inside. (*usually I am starting to cook shortly after so I make some gains that way too)

GET MOVING: Staying on the computer makes you colder, so get up and do something else for 30 mins, then check mail for 15 mins. (also helps on weight)

CLOSE OFF ROOMS THAT ARE NOT USED:

BASEMENTS: Since these usually have the furnance why loose that heat out the windows? cover them with plastic .. Usually basement exterior doors are lousy, put up a blanket curtain. If its really bad pick up some styrofoam boards and make an insulated 'wall' . I do this at camp for one of the doors I put duct tape on the edges and around the pieces so they won't break (and numbered them for next year). In an emergency we could get out, but the cold can't get in as much

BATHROOMS: If you have littles teach them to dry off inside the tub with the shower curtain/door shut - much warmer. If you are running the heat low, an electric heater helps the bathroom. If everyone takes showers one right after the other residual heat from showers/bath helps keep the room warm and less electric heat is needed. In my house if you don't get shower 'NOW' then the electric heater is NOT going to be on for you.
I figured out I could get a shower in 5 mins, including hair .. I start yelling at the kids at about 7 mins to shut down the shower

REPLACE THE BULBS: I don't care what they say the 60 watt swirlies do not give enough light to read, so I did replace the lamps where we read with the 100 watt swirlies ..

FIND THE THERMOS OR CARAFT: If you drink hot tea or coffee, put in the thermos and it'll stay hot all day without using electric. I preheat the thermos with hot water (while doing dishes). If I am making for the guys and they are hunting I boil the preheat water (then dump in my dishes) so its really really hot. For takeaway thermos, old stretched out hunting socks are another layer of thermal protection. You can make a bag to carry with handle using old towlels for liner), placement cover(so it looks prettier)

PLAN YOUR MEALS: With a menu plan and an idea of what you have in freezer (that needs used before freezer burn) you are saving gas, and replacement of food that was ruined.

Clean your pantry area, find the weird cans and make a meal. Using it up means more space in pantry for a sale. Cleaning also means you can see if you have a problem with miller moths etc

Use the crockpot, make soups (it also helps you loose weight)

I plan on cooking in the oven at night so it gives extra heat during the day, even a counter top looses some heat .. If you make the no-knead bread you need to pre heat the baking container, find another dish that will fit in the oven at the same time and cook something. Last night I was cooking chicken at 350 but went ahead and preheated the bread container - figured just a few mins at the 450 vs 30mins .. the bread was fine, just popped it out and back on rack with stove off ..

BEDS: Flannel sheets feel warm, down comforters work great .. If needed electric blankets may help for arthritis (it works for mine). The magic gloves work great if you are camping, or have lousy circulation

GROW SOMETHING: it just feels warmer when you have plants

time for a break to do something else

Ria