[amberbamber]

Originally Posted by tinapbeana

wow, i'm so sorry!!!

try bumping the thermostat down a degree a week. it won't be a drastic change all at once, but you might reach 62 or 60 and find you're still comfy. oh, and while you're gone you can probably set the thermostat to 55 or 58 and the house'll be aok. do you have a programmable thermostat?

make sure your windows aren't sabotaging you. do they feel cold to the touch? or drafty? if possible, tack a light blanket or flannel sheets from a thrift store around windows.

check outside doors, too. weather stripping, a draft stopper at the base of the door, and a flannel sheet over those you don't use often might help.

what kind of light bulbs are you using? cfls do make a large difference.

is your water heater electric? try moving the temp setting down 5-10 degrees.

checking the insulation is definitely a must!

and, well, how much do you use the stove/oven for cooking? could you microwave more, or possibly bring hot food home once a week? you might pay a bit more on the food front this way, but i doubt it would be $125 more per month...

good luck!

Well, I can't get the themostat down much lower, I have 3 kids under 4 and they've been sick alot. I can't afford the doctor bills, much less the heat bill! I will work on all of these, most of them we already do.