This is too funny! We discovered that we had these ancient TARPS wrapped around the outside of the house when we were re-doing the drywall... I guess when our house was built they didn't worry about heating costs - just cold drafts? Thank goodness we gutted everything before moving in because I don't think we could have afforded to live in our house after that first winter - it was a nasty one!


To answer the question, though, I think they are about the same for us. We live in Missouri, and the weather is "fairly" mild here most years. We use our furnace for about five-six months and our AC for maybe three months or so, but in summer we do yard upkeep and we are also much more active since it's so nice out, so that evens things out a bit.

Summer is more expensive for us because we pay for daycamps at $150 a week for each child ($300 a week for two kids) and in the winter they are in public school. Our heating is more but we are on equalized billing so the bill is the same year round.

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Mom to dd (age 9) and ds (age 11)
blogging daily about purpose and personal identity

winter though we have it better than some of you we use fuel oil(wich is basically diesel fuel) and we spend only about $500-$700 depending on how cold of a winter and price of oil. our house actually seems to be decently insulated considering it was built in the late 1800's.

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SILENCE IS GOLDEN BUT DUCK TAPE IS SILVER.

Definitely winter. Besides heating bills, we have to use the dryer instead of the clothesline, and the shorter days require more lights on in the house.

Also we use more gas because we have to warm-up the cars before any trips.

Oh, yea, and then there's that big gift-buying holdiay in the middle of winter....

Yes, yes and heck yeah!! Our hydro and gas bills are higher. I always look forward to spring and low bills.

Winter for sure! In the summer time we just open the windows & use a fan if we have to. But in the winter time gas bills to keep the house warm are ridiculous!

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Kimberly Douglas

I think they're about the same. During the winter we have a higher heat bill but during the summer our water bill is up there.

Winter is definitely more expensive. Natural gas to heat the house and since we're home more, more electricity. We do pay both our gas and electric on budgeted billing so we have the same payment year round. I know some people like have a $25 gas bill in the summer but the $275 bill in winter hurts. We are very blessed that the previous owners did an energy audit and had insulation blown into the walls. We changed all the windows (except the front which is finally being done this Saturday) and have added extra insulation in the basement. I read that you lose a lot of heat in the rafters of the basement - where the framework sits on the foundation.

Sounds like our house.

During the summer, we can grow many of the fresh vegetables we eat. During the winter, we have to buy them.
During the summer, we seldom turn on the a/c, and when we do, it stays set on 80.
I don't water the lawn. If the grass dies, it dies. It's St. Augustine grass - it will come back. I water the garden and potted plants with the dirty water from the aquarium.
During the winter, we keep the heat set between 65 and 68.
I bake more during the winter.
When it's cold, clothes take forever to dry on the line, so if I don't have time to wait for them to dry, I will use the dryer.
In addition to Yule gifts, my niece and my dad both have December birthdays, and two of my step-children (actually my ex's children, but they're still part of my family) have January birthdays.
We stay indoors more during the winter, which means the lights and tv are on more.

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When life hands you lemons, ask for tequila and salt and call me over!
Any time God closes one door, She always opens another, even though sometimes it's Hell in the hallway.
Handle every stressful situation like a dog. If you can't eat it or play with it, pee on it and walk away.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, prepare to die. (Klingon proverb)
Don't point. You'll poke holes in the air and all the faeries will escape.

Summer is more for us thanks to crazy electric costs to cool our house and added water necessary for the yard. Also since DS is out of school we spend more money doing fun things. I am so happy right now bill wise - our electric bills are several hundred less than they were just a couple of months ago. Our water bills should go down as well - but then again our rates are going up because we have been doing such a good job of conserving that they aren't making enough money so our rates are going up...