Cooling costs: Have you felt the chill?

Christy · **Cooling costs: Have you felt the chill?**

Budgeting for groceries, gas, entertainment and bills seems to be harder and harder. Have you had to cut some costs this summer that have made things difficult? OR have you adjusted well?

mamaof3kiddies · 06-24-2008, 08:35 PM

Have definitely paid closer attention to what we are spending $$ on. I have paid attention to when I do laundry to make sure I can hang my clothes out to dry -- today was major laundry day and hang everything outside!!!

Going to try to limit the AC cost this summer (so far that has been pretty easy).

Really planning out my weeks and our trips so I do not waste any gas and get all my trips together.

stevesgal · 06-25-2008, 06:20 AM

So far we are adjusting well, cooling is not too much a factor yet early morning (kinda like fall weather here right now- hot afternoons chilly nights and mornings!) but I usually turn on the a/c about 1 hour before DH gets home on the warmer days and usually the a/c is off by 7:30 at night!

brensmom · 06-25-2008, 09:01 AM

well we have been sticking to home and only make two trips to town a week to take the boys to taekwondo while they are there i run my errands mondays i hit the library wed i hit the grocery then we swim weather permitting after class at my dads since it is right near there..

also today is the first day i have had the air conditioning on we normally have it on in may so not to bad this year but its 70 degrees already and humid out so we are not gonna suffer i have made the decision the kids can camp out on the main floor and we are not cooling the upstairs(the kids bedrooms and 1 bath are up there) i hung a curtain over the stairway as well to keep the cool air down stairs.. it has made a difference the air is not running non stop.. so it will be worth the hassle.

ember15 · 06-25-2008, 09:42 AM

Not yet with the Groceries. To be honest we have ate out too much while working on a home project but the home project solves the issue of AC which we don't have and is totally do able in Washington. We get hot for a few weeks and thats about it. But still the humidity isn't a factor so our solution to cooling is to use celing fans in the early morn to cool things as much as possible and then close the drapes when the afternoon sun starts hitting the windows and then go outside when it is too hot.
Summer seams a great time for savings as our gas heating bill drops to just a service charge.
If its really really hot we find some place with AC to go Or take Dd to our Neighborhood spray park. Its great because it is close enough to walk to and we are not using our water

Oh and I let the grass die no since in spending money watering a yard.

T-shell · 06-25-2008, 10:01 AM

We've been eating out too much as well. I've been a "nerd" this month by tracking what our grocery/entertainment expenses are, and these will be reduced. Medical expenses are squeezing us, and I have some necessary upcoming dental work to cover as well.

greytrunner · 06-25-2008, 10:08 AM

Our electric bill is going up. TX is just too hot to not us AC. I'm even conservative in the temp I keep it out, but it is still expensive.

changed4life · 06-25-2008, 10:09 AM

Not really feeling the squeeze. We're on a budget amount and I feel it will go down next year. So far, we really haven't needed the air more than a few days when it got into the 90s. My house stays pretty cool and I keep the ceiling fan on in the center of the house.

christy'smom · 06-25-2008, 11:24 AM

Last month's electricity bill was $170 - and I have been pretty frugal - I am sure it will double in the coming months. I have no choice here it keeps getting hotter. Or I will have to fill up my gas guzzler and get out of the house, and I am sure I will spend a lot more shopping.

Leitha · 06-25-2008, 12:12 PM

Not really here in Mass. I'm worried about the heating bill this winter! Since we have oil heat!