< Back to front page Text size – +

How long will you go before turning the heat on?

Print | Comments () Posted by Beth Daley October 6, 2008 03:40 PM

E-mail

By Beth Daley, Globe Staff

I’ve already caved. Yesterday, I turned on the heat.

The goal was November 1. Every year, my husband and I wager how far we can make it into the season without cranking up the furnace and watching our money disappear. This year, with the cost of heat rising, the stakes were even higher. So we chose chilly November 1.

But yesterday was damp, gloomy and cold. I turned the thermostat to 68. It’s off again today but the truth hurts: We barely made it into October.

I have friends that are disappointed. Two have promised not to put the heat on even if the temperature dipped below 20 degrees Fahrenheit until Nov. 1. I have another friend that is trying to get to Thanksgiving. She owns many sweaters.

This friend likes to joke that waiting to crank the heat should be a competitive Olympic event. She believes Saturday winter nights should be deemed rotating dinner party nights among friends to give attendees the opportunity to keep their empty house cold.

How long are you hoping to go this year before the warmth comes creeping in? Is it any different than previous years?