Reply #7: What about those of us who use oil to hear out homes?

[jackster]

The driving, I can manage at $6 or so - car pool, shop locally, buy a bike, whatever, and the boyfriend works about 5 miles from home. I rent a small townhouse type apt in an older home. We have a programmable thermostat and it's 63 when we're home and 53 when we're not or sleeping. We were VERY cold this winter. I spent over $2000 from Oct - April, average cost of the oil I bought was probably at about $3 a gallon. I'm not prepared to move again immediately to find something that uses natural gas (we just moved) and can't afford to buy in this town, but I need to be here to help with my grandchildren. My landlord doesn't have the money to make any upgrades, she's insulated her side of the house but our side has none. I'm already trying to figure out ways to save - plastic on all the windows, shutting off the dining room, of course wearing more clothes - hats help, fingerless gloves, offering to pay for insulation under the living room floor in the basement, etc. The bf thinks I'm crazy because he says no one he knows is worried about this and he refuses to make any lifestyle changes. He just got a nice bonus at work - since I manage the money I'm going to take that $1000 and fill up our oil tank now and watch him yell. Too bad. I'm worried. In fact, I'm starting to panic. My dreams are filled with this shite.....