Writer's Block: Small Economies

[martelvonc]

[Error: unknown template qotd]Temperature regulation in my house is a challenge. My family want to wear shorts in the winter and parkas in the summer but I am training them in no uncertain terms. I keep the A/C at 78 in the summer and the heat at 58 in the winter. Put the proper clothes on people and stop your whining!

Comments

[greta-k.livejournal.com]

58 in the winter . . . wow. I have hypothyroidism, and I'd freeze in your house!

We actually keep it slightly warmer than we used to so we don't freeze the child - @70. With a heat pump, that means it's 65 or 66 in the bedrooms. Before her, we'd keep it 68 at night (it would be 64 in the bedroom).

[albreda.livejournal.com]

We're in VT, so you'd think our house would be well insulated, but not so much; I've been making improvements over time, but still.

Our big change this winter is a $10 per person limit on presents outside the five of us, and $25 per person for the kids, my husband and I. With over 40 people on our family gift list, we HAD to make this change. I'm making more presents because of it, which would be fine if I had another week and no head cold!

[martelvonc.livejournal.com]

We went to choosing names this year for the adults.

My family is ok financially for now but my niece is a foster mom with 6 kids and my mom is on a fixed income so we decided to cut back and have each person only have to gift to one adult. We can still gift to the kids at will though! :-)

It was a collective sigh of relief for everyone.

Christmas Thriftiness

[weaverrhi.livejournal.com]

We have basically cut out gifts for almost all adult friends and we have put a spending limit on each other as well. Last year, we went embarrassingly overboard to the point we all felt guilty (it's just four adults and the amount of gifts was just obscene). This year, we're all putting an eye towards being a lot more conservative; but should we have a child to spoil next year, we will surely do so to the best of our ability :-)

[martelvonc.livejournal.com]

I really had to put my foot down. In the middle of winter the family would literally sit around in shorts and t-shirts.

Now they wear *gasp!* jeans and a sweatshirt or sweater! and oh the horror, socks too!

I am such a mean mom! lol!!

Re: Christmas Thriftiness

[martelvonc.livejournal.com]

Spoiling other children, just another service we provide! :-)

[albreda.livejournal.com]

Yeah, part of me would like to limit the gifting to the adults of MY generation, but keep the presents flowing freely to both the kids and Grandparents. Good idea!