What's the most cost-effective way to heat my house?
My heating bill last winter was outrageous — over $300/month for a 1,500 sq ft house. I have an old oil furnace. Would switching to natural gas save money? What about a pellet stove or heat pump? Someone mentioned insulation is more important than the heating system. Where do I start without spending a fortune?
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Don't make a big financial decision when you're stressed or excited. Sleep on it. The dealership, the realtor, the salesman all want you to decide RIGHT NOW because pressure works in their favor. Walking away is always an option.
3 Answers
Don't make a big financial decision when you're stressed or excited. Sleep on it. The dealership, the realtor, the salesman all want you to decide RIGHT NOW because pressure works in their favor. Walking away is always an option.
I made this exact mistake when I was younger and it cost me. Learn from others instead of learning the hard way. The personal finance section of any bookstore has dozens of books — they mostly say the same sensible things for a reason.
Make a budget and actually stick to it. Boring advice, I know, but it works. The envelope method helped my family — cash in labeled envelopes for groceries, gas, fun money. When the envelope is empty, you're done spending in that category.
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