Who likes bills? I hate them actually...just another reminder that I'm an adult, with adult responsibilities, and that I can't spend my entire day playing in a sandbox. Just sayin'. Life was so much simpler back then.
Some bills I can forgive a little more easily than others. My credit card statements? Yeah, you're probably one of the highest of the bunch -- but let's be honest, I probably have something cool to show for it (or at the very least, a full belly). Rent? You frustrate me. Heat? You frustrate me more. You can't survive a Minnesota winter without heat, yet I don't turn my heat up as balmy as I'd like to, because I can't afford it.
Essentially, my thermostat is set to the bone-chilling, menopause temperatures of my parents' house (sorry, mom). That's what extra socks are for, right? And blankets? And besides...it saves me on grooming costs for the dog, because I leave her a little shaggier to stay warm during winter.
So my house may not be the warmest...but at least I have heat. I have the option to turn it higher. 146,000 people applied for heat assistance through SEMCAC this year. That's 146,000 needy families, with at least a few freezing children, with blankets heaped high on their beds. That's not even to say that all of those people will be approved for the help - just that they asked for it.
The number of people in our area requesting heat assistance has gone up 6% in the past year, and there's no doubt that increase is being felt all across the country.
Feeling down today? Look at these stats from the 2009 National Energy Assistance Survey Report -- which surveys all of the people receiving energy assistance in 12 states, including Minnesota. (Here's a link: http://www.neada.org/communications/surveys/2010-04-19NEADA_2009_Survey_Report.pdf)
What did people do to make ends meet before getting the help (or even sometimes after the help)?
- 36% closed off part of their home to conserve the heat
- 33% used their oven to heat their home.
- 26% kept their home at a temperature that was unsafe or unhealthy
- 20% had to leave their home for part of the day to stay warm.
Feeling better about your situation? Keep reading.
- Nearly 1/3 of the THOUSANDS surveyed said they went without food in order to heat their home.
- Over 40% sacrificed medical care.
- 25% had someone in the home get physically sick because it was too cold.
My house may be chilly...but I'm not sick. I can still afford medical care. And I'm still well-fed.
Besides...cold temps give me a reason to crochet, right? Who doesn't love an afghan?
Or this little number for Janie??
The heat is ON!
And I'm thankful for that :)
Some bills I can forgive a little more easily than others. My credit card statements? Yeah, you're probably one of the highest of the bunch -- but let's be honest, I probably have something cool to show for it (or at the very least, a full belly). Rent? You frustrate me. Heat? You frustrate me more. You can't survive a Minnesota winter without heat, yet I don't turn my heat up as balmy as I'd like to, because I can't afford it.
Essentially, my thermostat is set to the bone-chilling, menopause temperatures of my parents' house (sorry, mom). That's what extra socks are for, right? And blankets? And besides...it saves me on grooming costs for the dog, because I leave her a little shaggier to stay warm during winter.
So my house may not be the warmest...but at least I have heat. I have the option to turn it higher. 146,000 people applied for heat assistance through SEMCAC this year. That's 146,000 needy families, with at least a few freezing children, with blankets heaped high on their beds. That's not even to say that all of those people will be approved for the help - just that they asked for it.
The number of people in our area requesting heat assistance has gone up 6% in the past year, and there's no doubt that increase is being felt all across the country.
Feeling down today? Look at these stats from the 2009 National Energy Assistance Survey Report -- which surveys all of the people receiving energy assistance in 12 states, including Minnesota. (Here's a link: http://www.neada.org/communications/surveys/2010-04-19NEADA_2009_Survey_Report.pdf)
What did people do to make ends meet before getting the help (or even sometimes after the help)?
- 36% closed off part of their home to conserve the heat
- 33% used their oven to heat their home.
- 26% kept their home at a temperature that was unsafe or unhealthy
- 20% had to leave their home for part of the day to stay warm.
Feeling better about your situation? Keep reading.
- Nearly 1/3 of the THOUSANDS surveyed said they went without food in order to heat their home.
- Over 40% sacrificed medical care.
- 25% had someone in the home get physically sick because it was too cold.
My house may be chilly...but I'm not sick. I can still afford medical care. And I'm still well-fed.
Besides...cold temps give me a reason to crochet, right? Who doesn't love an afghan?
Or this little number for Janie??
The heat is ON!
And I'm thankful for that :)
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