Quit Your Whining - My Reality Check

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GreenMtnLabbit

2013-02-15 8:24 AM

Expert

1014

, New Hampshire

Subject: Quit Your Whining - My Reality Check

Last night as I was getting into bed, I was hopping around the bedroom whining about how cold it is in there (we heat it to 53°F in the winter) and how my clothes are cold so it sucks changing into cold jammies...

It was after 1:30 AM and my husband had just walked home from his shift at the warming shelter. He told me tonight he spent time talking to a guy who had come in with a bloody face because his girlfriend had abused him and he decided it was time to leave. He walked about 10 miles in the cold with a bloody face, from the next town because ours was the closest shelter. Someone did give him a ride for the last few miles.

As I got into our cozy bed with a heated mattress pad and a cat at my feet, I realized just how stupid a comment I had made. We live in a poor state and there are a lot of people living in poverty in our small town. I know I'm fortunate to be healthy, educated, loved and cared for with a roof over my head, and I had a pretty good reality check last night. I don't think I'll whine about our cold bedroom again any time soon. If only every bed at the warming shelter could have electric blankets and kittens...

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powerman

2013-02-15 8:47 AM

in reply to: #4623436

Elite

6387

Subject: RE: Quit Your Whining - My Reality Check

Gratitude is a wonderful thing.

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mr2tony

2013-02-15 10:21 AM

in reply to: #4623436

Champion

34263

Chicago

Subject: RE: Quit Your Whining - My Reality Check

OK I have to ask -- why do you keep it 53 in your house? If it gets below about 70, I crank up the heat.

But to your point, yes, it's funny how much we take for granted.

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Moonrocket

2013-02-15 10:28 AM

in reply to: #4623436

Extreme Veteran

1648

Subject: RE: Quit Your Whining - My Reality Check

I grew up in a cold house. I found a hot water bottle placed on top of PJs under the covers 10 minutes before bed warms up your PJs and bed. Pull out PJs and put them on warm and toasty. (You can also put your clothes for the next day under the covers in a little bag and that takes the chill off them too- and ironing helps warms them up.)

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mdg2003

2013-02-15 11:36 AM

in reply to: #4623436

Pro

6838

Tejas

Subject: RE: Quit Your Whining - My Reality Check

WoW, I'm kinda whiny today because I wanted to ride this AM before work and it's 56 outside!

We take a lot for granted. Lot's of poor in this town too. I know lots of people that work 2-3 jobs to make ends meet. Some of them working one full and two part time jobs. Upside is some of them working that hard are doing well, putting kids through school to be first in family to get a degree.

GreenMtnLabbit

2013-02-15 11:47 AM

in reply to: #4623674

Expert

1014

, New Hampshire

Subject: RE: Quit Your Whining - My Reality Check

mr2tony - 2013-02-15 11:21 AM OK I have to ask -- why do you keep it 53 in your house? If it gets below about 70, I crank up the heat. But to your point, yes, it's funny how much we take for granted.

Most of the house is heated to 53°F, the main room in the house is heated to 63°F. Why? Because heating oil is expensive, and it's winter - put a sweater on! (Or...my fuzzy robe with monkeys on it.

)

Moonrocket - 2013-02-15 11:28 AM I grew up in a cold house. I found a hot water bottle placed on top of PJs under the covers 10 minutes before bed warms up your PJs and bed. Pull out PJs and put them on warm and toasty.

I need to remember to do this!! My hubby is nice and does it for me sometimes. I can't believe I don't do this as a habit...I've always had a cold bedroom. Duh!! Thanks!

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Aarondb4

2013-02-15 12:45 PM

in reply to: #4623436

Expert

3126

Boise, ID

Subject: RE: Quit Your Whining - My Reality Check

We do the same. Heater only runs for an hour in the morning and for two hours after we get home, set at 50-55 the rest of the time just so the pipes won't freeze.

Still pay $130+ in the cold months for heat. Can't imagine what the bill would be if we ran it all the time.

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wenceslasz

2013-02-15 3:33 PM

in reply to: #4623436

Extreme Veteran

1704

Penticton, BC

Subject: RE: Quit Your Whining - My Reality Check

My wife and I used to live in northern British Columbia and we kept our bedroom cold too. I find if its too warm I just can't sleep.

When it would get really cold like -40 we'd fill a couple 2-litre pop bottles with hot tap water and put them under the blankets at the end of the bed. Really warmed the sheets nicely and those bottles were still slightly warm by morning.

Now we've moved south and I miss the cold nights - especially at the full moon - something amazing/incredible to see in the winter.

Here in the "south" of BC we had an air source heat pump installed and a high efficiency natural gas furnace and between the two we pay about $300 for the year for heat and air conditioning.

Reading about how many people are struggling in this economy makes me realize how lucky I am to be retired and reasonably comfortable.

Edited by wenceslasz 2013-02-15 3:39 PM

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JoshR

2013-02-15 3:43 PM

in reply to: #4623984

Elite

4564

Boise

Subject: RE: Quit Your Whining - My Reality Check

Aarondb4 - 2013-02-15 11:45 AM

We do the same. Heater only runs for an hour in the morning and for two hours after we get home, set at 50-55 the rest of the time just so the pipes won't freeze.

Still pay $130+ in the cold months for heat. Can't imagine what the bill would be if we ran it all the time.

What was your bill for January? Mine went from $80 last year to $175 and I put in a bunch of new windows for Christmas too.

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KateTri1

2013-02-15 8:30 PM

in reply to: #4623436