Hi folks. I discovered this site some time earlier in 2014 and I've been reducing my expenses in order to accelerate my path to financial independence. I've made some good progress from April through December, and tomorrow starts a new year during which I hope to reduce my expenses further.
My current situation is that my heater is broken and I'm thinking about not getting it fixed. I live in Southern California, so the winters are mild. However, I'm also kinda cold-blooded in that I like a good deal of warmth :) My hands and feet get cold easily and I don't seem to function well in the chill (i.e. I stay in bed in the morning because I'm cold - and sometimes lazy). I try to keep my living space at about 70-71 degrees in the winter. I can take any amount of heat in the summer, so the air conditioning is rarely, if ever, used.
I was curious to know what temperature folks typically keep their indoors at during the winter. I was reading some old posts here on the forum. There are not too many discussions specifically tied to this subject. However, reading through some of the ones that do exist, I realized that I could probably be considered a complainy-pants since I generally like it warmer than other folks. I moved into a 1,200 sq ft 3/2 townhome style condo this past spring and this is my first winter in it. I have an upstairs and downstairs with bedrooms and living space, respectively. I have neighbors on both sides. It's heated by a central forced air furnace fueled by natural gas. Even though it sometimes touches mid-30s (F) at night, my place seems to not go below about 64 degrees downstairs, and a degree or two warmer upstairs. I believe that my neighbors on both sides of me are helping to keep my place warm. I have been bundling up more, but I'm a tall skinny guy (6'1" 145lbs) and my hands still get cold at 65. I have several pairs of long underwear and I bought some cheap tight fitting long sleeve T-shirts for $5 each at Old Navy. That equipment seems to help. I am also thinking about "investing" in a thicker comforter. I say "investing" because, assuming it keeps me warm enough, I will likely easily save more money than what I would have otherwise spent on gas (heat) and electricity (fan).
What temperatures do others on this forum keep their indoor space at in the winter? I am know that I am pretty fortunate to be in a mild climate, but I'm afraid it's made me whimpy...
Cheers to all and have a Happy and prosperous New Year!