One in Five Americans Must Borrow to Heat Homes This Winter

[Chica Yeyé 41]

And also, we cannot assume everyone is a homeowner with a fully paid house. There's also renters with fixed leases, folks in low-income housing, etc.

Did you sell your Hummer?

We just sold our large home and moved to a smaller one. One reason - heating costs. One of the other reasons was skyrocketing gas prices (the home was located in the suburbs and our new tiny house is closer to our jobs).

Should everyone have to do what we did because of oil profiteering?

It's all well and good to talk conservation, but until you've personally made that kind of choice, the comment comes off as off-handed and flip to me.

I only know I wouldn't keep a Hummer (paid off or not) if I could not afford the fuel. It's not like heating prices are going to go down in the years to come. You have to think long term. I'd find a way to either make the home more energy efficient or sell.

I'd turn down the heat or find a more fuel efficient home that I could afford.

A lot of old people do bundle up.

And it's not so easy for them to just up and move. Many have a home that's paid for (albeit not energy efficient) and they can't afford to move to better housing because of their smaller incomes. Many don't have anyone who could help them move, or are not in good enough physical condition to pack their house up either.

[Kevin and 10]

And also, we cannot assume everyone is a homeowner with a fully paid house. There's also renters with fixed leases, folks in low-income housing, etc.

Did you sell your Hummer?

We just sold our large home and moved to a smaller one. One reason - heating costs. One of the other reasons was skyrocketing gas prices (the home was located in the suburbs and our new tiny house is closer to our jobs).

Should everyone have to do what we did because of oil profiteering?

It's all well and good to talk conservation, but until you've personally made that kind of choice, the comment comes off as off-handed and flip to me.

I only know I wouldn't keep a Hummer (paid off or not) if I could not afford the fuel. It's not like heating prices are going to go down in the years to come. You have to think long term. I'd find a way to either make the home more energy efficient or sell.

I'd turn down the heat or find a more fuel efficient home that I could afford.

A lot of old people do bundle up.

And it's not so easy for them to just up and move. Many have a home that's paid for (albeit not energy efficient) and they can't afford to move to better housing because of their smaller incomes. Many don't have anyone who could help them move, or are not in good enough physical condition to pack their house up either.

I got a FHA mortgage on my house and the buyer must be a resident in that home for 3 years or they can foreclose. My cousin had to refinace or he would have lost his house after he moved.

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Off handed? Flip? I drive a very old Mazda. I won't even get into my housing choice at the moment. I've made drastic life changes to save money.

Is this fair? No. But geez, if you can't afford to heat your home, you need a smaller space you can afford to heat. Do what you can with the cards you have in your hand.

Did you sell your Hummer?

We just sold our large home and moved to a smaller one. One reason - heating costs. One of the other reasons was skyrocketing gas prices (the home was located in the suburbs and our new tiny house is closer to our jobs).

Should everyone have to do what we did because of oil profiteering?

It's all well and good to talk conservation, but until you've personally made that kind of choice, the comment comes off as off-handed and flip to me.

I only know I wouldn't keep a Hummer (paid off or not) if I could not afford the fuel. It's not like heating prices are going to go down in the years to come. You have to think long term. I'd find a way to either make the home more energy efficient or sell.

I'd turn down the heat or find a more fuel efficient home that I could afford.

A lot of old people do bundle up.

And it's not so easy for them to just up and move. Many have a home that's paid for (albeit not energy efficient) and they can't afford to move to better housing because of their smaller incomes. Many don't have anyone who could help them move, or are not in good enough physical condition to pack their house up either.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I got a FHA mortgage on my house and the buyer must be a resident in that home for 3 years or they can foreclose. My cousin had to refinace or he would have lost his house after he moved.

My point exactly. Pretend that everyone can just take off and move to a better house is kind of surreal.

[almaty 19]

sanita (a mountain girl) and I usually have the temperature at 64..at night 52....

[mawilson 2,133]

Is this fair? No. But geez, if you can't afford to heat your home, you need a smaller space you can afford to heat. Do what you can with the cards you have in your hand.

Damn right.

Borrowing money on credit cards to heat your home is a recipe for disaster.

[no name 1]

Is this fair? No. But geez, if you can't afford to heat your home, you need a smaller space you can afford to heat. Do what you can with the cards you have in your hand.

Damn right.

Borrowing money on credit cards to heat your home is a recipe for disaster.

The mortgage crisis didn't come out of nowhere. Living above your means is dangerous & it will bite you in the a$$.

[rebeccajo 14]

Ok sorry man, no offense meant. Sensitive subject for me, kind of. But I don't think a lot of older folks have the option to do what I've done, or what you've done.

Off handed? Flip? I drive a very old Mazda. I won't even get into my housing choice at the moment. I've made drastic life changes to save money.

Is this fair? No. But geez, if you can't afford to heat your home, you need a smaller space you can afford to heat. Do what you can with the cards you have in your hand.

Did you sell your Hummer?

We just sold our large home and moved to a smaller one. One reason - heating costs. One of the other reasons was skyrocketing gas prices (the home was located in the suburbs and our new tiny house is closer to our jobs).

Should everyone have to do what we did because of oil profiteering?

It's all well and good to talk conservation, but until you've personally made that kind of choice, the comment comes off as off-handed and flip to me.

I only know I wouldn't keep a Hummer (paid off or not) if I could not afford the fuel. It's not like heating prices are going to go down in the years to come. You have to think long term. I'd find a way to either make the home more energy efficient or sell.

I'd turn down the heat or find a more fuel efficient home that I could afford.

A lot of old people do bundle up.

And it's not so easy for them to just up and move. Many have a home that's paid for (albeit not energy efficient) and they can't afford to move to better housing because of their smaller incomes. Many don't have anyone who could help them move, or are not in good enough physical condition to pack their house up either.

[Kevin and 10]

Is this fair? No. But geez, if you can't afford to heat your home, you need a smaller space you can afford to heat. Do what you can with the cards you have in your hand.

Damn right.

Borrowing money on credit cards to heat your home is a recipe for disaster.

The mortgage crisis didn't come out of nowhere. Living above your means is dangerous & it will bite you in the a$$.

I like the guy who gets his paycheck, goes to the local watering hole, and drops 100-200. Then complains that he doesn't get paid enough or has nothing when he retires.

I have relatives that make probably 80G combined. They couldn't even pay for food and when they did everything had to the top of the line. But they had to have satilite tv with all the channels, fidge full of beer, 4 wheelers, snomobiles, trip, ect.

[rebeccajo 14]

Is this fair? No. But geez, if you can't afford to heat your home, you need a smaller space you can afford to heat. Do what you can with the cards you have in your hand.

Damn right.

Borrowing money on credit cards to heat your home is a recipe for disaster.

I'd hedge a guess that SOME of the folks borrowing on credit to heat their houses are doing that because they've got too much credit already.

Like big house credit. A big house payment isn't the only thing some people overpurchased in the last few years. They bought the utility costs that go along with those behemoth houses.

I really doubt that Grandma living in the little paid-off house she raised her kiddos in will use her credit card to pay the gas bill. She'll just be cold.

Edited December 19, 2007 by rebeccajo

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

I'm not angry with you. I just wanted you to know I'm not some spoiled Hummer driving suburbanite thinking he has all the answers. I'd just find a way to deal with it. This is America there's always a way. It might not be a happy way, but there is a way. Elderly included.

Ok sorry man, no offense meant. Sensitive subject for me, kind of. But I don't think a lot of older folks have the option to do what I've done, or what you've done.

Off handed? Flip? I drive a very old Mazda. I won't even get into my housing choice at the moment. I've made drastic life changes to save money.

Is this fair? No. But geez, if you can't afford to heat your home, you need a smaller space you can afford to heat. Do what you can with the cards you have in your hand.

Did you sell your Hummer?

We just sold our large home and moved to a smaller one. One reason - heating costs. One of the other reasons was skyrocketing gas prices (the home was located in the suburbs and our new tiny house is closer to our jobs).

Should everyone have to do what we did because of oil profiteering?

It's all well and good to talk conservation, but until you've personally made that kind of choice, the comment comes off as off-handed and flip to me.

I only know I wouldn't keep a Hummer (paid off or not) if I could not afford the fuel. It's not like heating prices are going to go down in the years to come. You have to think long term. I'd find a way to either make the home more energy efficient or sell.

I'd turn down the heat or find a more fuel efficient home that I could afford.

A lot of old people do bundle up.

And it's not so easy for them to just up and move. Many have a home that's paid for (albeit not energy efficient) and they can't afford to move to better housing because of their smaller incomes. Many don't have anyone who could help them move, or are not in good enough physical condition to pack their house up either.

[russ 1]

Is this fair? No. But geez, if you can't afford to heat your home, you need a smaller space you can afford to heat. Do what you can with the cards you have in your hand.

Most people do not know what the heating or cooling costs will be for their home years into the future. Prices change frequently.

We just got over the expensive season here in FL, July-Sep is prime time for AC. That costs us an extra $400/month (bill is about $100 in the winter, $500 in the summer). It is still way cheaper than heating oil. I paid about $700 a month for that in Boston, years ago, before it was $3+ a gallon.

Just changed all of the lightbulbs to the energy efficient type, but all that does is save the power company money (there is no way to get the bill below about $100/month here, no matter what you do) If you use fewer KWhours here, they charge more... With the customer charges, taxes, and franchise fees, my electric bill is about $80 if I use no electricity. Should save some cash in the summer though.

[rebeccajo 14]

I don't think they should have to suffer because of the current problems with oil prices, which directly bounces off US international politics.

Elderly people on fixed incomes should get a break on fuel costs. Grannies freezing in their houses in January shouldn't be allowed anymore than kids going to school hungry (which doesn't happen because of the 'free lunch' program - where is Carol'sMarc?)

I'm not angry with you. I just wanted you to know I'm not some spoiled Hummer driving suburbanite thinking he has all the answers. I'd just find a way to deal with it. This is America there's always a way. It might not be a happy way, but there is a way. Elderly included.

Ok sorry man, no offense meant. Sensitive subject for me, kind of. But I don't think a lot of older folks have the option to do what I've done, or what you've done.

Off handed? Flip? I drive a very old Mazda. I won't even get into my housing choice at the moment. I've made drastic life changes to save money.

Is this fair? No. But geez, if you can't afford to heat your home, you need a smaller space you can afford to heat. Do what you can with the cards you have in your hand.

Did you sell your Hummer?

We just sold our large home and moved to a smaller one. One reason - heating costs. One of the other reasons was skyrocketing gas prices (the home was located in the suburbs and our new tiny house is closer to our jobs).

Should everyone have to do what we did because of oil profiteering?

It's all well and good to talk conservation, but until you've personally made that kind of choice, the comment comes off as off-handed and flip to me.

I only know I wouldn't keep a Hummer (paid off or not) if I could not afford the fuel. It's not like heating prices are going to go down in the years to come. You have to think long term. I'd find a way to either make the home more energy efficient or sell.

I'd turn down the heat or find a more fuel efficient home that I could afford.

A lot of old people do bundle up.

And it's not so easy for them to just up and move. Many have a home that's paid for (albeit not energy efficient) and they can't afford to move to better housing because of their smaller incomes. Many don't have anyone who could help them move, or are not in good enough physical condition to pack their house up either.

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

What-!!!!!! If I go out-of-town for a month and don't use any juice, my electric bill would be about $5.00. You are saying they give you a minimum charge of $80 just to be on the grid?

...my electric bill is about $80 if I use no electricity...

[Kevin and 10]

I don't think they should have to suffer because of the current problems with oil prices, which directly bounces off US international politics.

Elderly people on fixed incomes should get a break on fuel costs. Grannies freezing in their houses in January shouldn't be allowed anymore than kids going to school hungry (which doesn't happen because of the 'free lunch' program - where is Carol'sMarc?)

Elderly and retired folk shouldn't have to pay income taxes ( State, Fed or FICA) from the monthly checks they get. That would help offset some of the cost for heating.