We retirees easily solved our home heating costs. On the morning after my November retirement party, we were on our way from cold, clammy Pennsylvania to hot, dry Arizona. With our kids grown up and gone, we had been fortunate in selling our house quickly and at our price. Fortunately, this was 1991, before the big real estate crash.

We bought a house on the edge of the Saguaro National Forest in Southern Arizona, where the winter daytime temperatures rarely go below 70 degrees, and at night rarely go below 40. We don't have solar panels on our home, but during the winter months, our windows bring in plenty of sunshine, which keeps the house warm through the night. We have electric heat, but even on the few cold winter nights, we never set the thermostat higher than 65 degrees. Then, as we did in the East, we wear warm wool PJs and socks. A shot of brandy before winter beddy-bye helps keep the body warm and sleep undisturbed for eight blissful hours. Who needs heating pads or sleeping pills?

Before we sold our Pennsylvania house, we used the fireplace frequently in winter to provide warmth, and as a place for family gatherings. We have one in our Arizona home, but even on the relatively chilly winter evenings, we rarely use it. For those who have fireplaces and have access to inexpensive wood, there are metal stoves and other devices they can use to enhance the fireplace heat to radiate through the house so that other fuel is unnecessary.

Although memories may be dim about coal and oil needed in home heating, I can still remember seeing the trucks in our city neighborhood in the 30s and 40s, dumping coal down chutes into basements. And a bit later in history, I watched the oil trucks feeding their hoses into home tanks. For those who must still buy supplies of those fuels today for home heating, some savings may be realized by checking prices throughout the year.

Most people load up fuel for the winter in August and September, when the prices are the highest. By following price listings on the internet or by calling the fuel companies, you may find that buying your fuel between April and July can save you considerable dollars, instead of buying it during peak season. Depending on the age and construction of your house, and your local weather, there may be ways of installing equipment, such as solar panels, to aid in winter home heating so you may use less purchased fuel or electricity.

Check with your local power company and various internet consumer information sites to learn how you can find ways to cut home heating costs. If you're a senior on a fixed income, contact appropriate government agencies to find out if you're eligible for financial help in home heating expenses.

Of course, there are many ways to cut home heating costs. Most are just plain common sense. When you keep your house temperature below 70, wear appropriate clothing. If you'll be out of the house for a couple of hours, a day or a week, turn the thermostat down to below 60 degrees. Unless below-freezing weather is predicted while you're gone, you may just shut the heating system down completely until you return.

Learn more about this author, Ted Sherman.
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