Live Frugally or Die Broke

Cut Your Energy Costs
If you happen to be cursed like myself and live where it snows, you probably pay more than you want on heating. I’ve been living in Northern Minnesota for six years. I think I may have learned a few things that could aid you in saving a few bucks on your bills. While renting apartments, I have lived in several sorts of rental units. Each year I have found a way to make my bill less expensive. The single most deciding factor when trying to save on heat, is to do your research before you move in. Too many people rent an apartment, without considering the heating costs. That sweet bungalow on the other side of town may look pretty, but what happens in January when it’s 20 below?

Do Your Own Due Diligence
The first year I ever lived in an apartment I was in quite a jam. I needed to move out of my current dorm in a hurry. I actually rented the place sight unseen, by signing the lease at the landlord’s office. The house wasn’t in terrible shape, however the bills were very expensive. This house was a three story town home at the top of a hill. The wind seemed to suck the heat right out of the place. There were old windows that failed to stop the drafts from coming in. I did what I could, but the bill for heat was nearly $300 a month. I put up plastic sheeting on all the windows and switched to an electric heater that I put next to my bed at night. The main heat was barely ever turned on after that. I know it was quite a bit more dangerous but I desperately needed to save on money.

Each year I moved, I made sure to remember the nightmare I dealt with in my first rental. I started selecting apartments that had the heat included with rent. I noticed that there was usually a caveat to that clause. The landlord had sole control over the heat, in most cases. I noticed the apartments usually stayed around 60 degrees. I ended up walking around wearing winter hats and layers of clothing. My cries to the landlord to show some compassion were usually met with reluctance.

What I Learned
The last two years I have been renting, I have hit home runs when selecting apartments. Last year I was looking at a place in which the landlord himself lived. He was an older gentleman in his seventies or eighties and was very intelligent with carpentry. He had very well insulated windows and walls. He was also in charge of the house’s only thermostat. Surely if he lived in the same building as the tenants and also paid heat, the temperatures were going to be ideal. There were nights it was so warm in that apartment, that I had to turn on the ceiling fans. This year, I live in a larger building with several individual apartment units. Everyone is in charge of their own utility bills. When I selected an apartment this year, I made sure to get one on the middle floor. Now the heat below us, above us, and on either side keeps our apartment warm all the time. We rarely ever have to turn on our electric heaters to bump up the temperature.

Make sure you do your homework before you select a place to live. The heating bill is now my number one consideration, when picking a rental. You can also cut your costs after you find a bargain. Keep your heat lower at night as your body goes into it’s hibernation state. Wear comfortable, yet loose, warm clothing. I noticed in the state of Minnesota, it’s not uncommon to see everyone walking around in pajamas all the time. In almost every movie I have seen depicting Minnesota, there is always some strange person walking around in a bath robe or something. Besides clothing, plastic over the windows can be a big help. I wouldn’t exactly recommend the electric heaters I spoke of before. In a pinch though they seem to be quite a bit cheaper, if you only want to heat the room you are in. Sometimes I felt I didn’t need to have the entire furnace on, if I was going to be in my office all day. Hopefully some of these tips help you cut on costs slightly more.