How Low Will You Go To Save On Heating Bills?

It's another cold day here in the Boston area and as the temps go down, the heating bills go up. Heating your home is more expensive than ever. They've practically doubled since 2021 and have not got down since.

Because of this, we are looking for ways to save money on heating bills and electric bills too. Some of us go to extremes to cut down on the bills by turning the thermostat down as far as they can tolerate the cold.

What got us on the subject was a "DM Disaster" from listener Kate, a wife who is really getting tired of her husband's obsession with coupons and the life of an "Extreme Couponer". She said his frugality is destroying their marriage and doesn't know how much longer she can take it.

Kate told us that her husband spends most of his spare time either clipping coupons on getting them online through various websites and then be gone all day at a grocery store. She said sometimes he's gone for hours and comes back the wackiest stuff, like kids cereal that they will never eat or various canned goods that end up in the pantry for years.

He has gone so far as to turn their basement and garage into large stockrooms for all the goods he brings home.

Kate is about done with it and wanted to know if there were others going through the same thing with a frugal spouse.

The bulk of the calls and texts came from listeners that said their spouse is extremely frugal with the home heating. We asked if anyone lives with a spouse who insists on lowering the thermostat below 60. The response was huge with plenty of people saying that they keep their house at a frosty 58 degrees. That was as low as heard thankfully nobody called with a temp lower than that.

We hope that Kate feels better now that she knows there are people that go pretty far to save a buck, heck, maybe we saved a marriage!

The folks at Travel and Leisure Magazine have rated 6 New England spots that make the list of the 20 most beautiful winter towns in the U.S.A. To us New Englanders it's not surprising they made the list because we have so many worthy towns in our corner of the country. Plus, they are all just a nice scenic drive away from pretty much anywhere around the Boston area.

There's something about a coating of the white stuff (snow) to make a town look more beautiful, especially Old New England towns with picturesque mains streets and back roads (as they say). Snow makes everything prettier, that's why we are always hoping for a white Christmas. If you look at a town's main street in the summer time it doesn't look as good as will with an inch or three of freshly fallen snow. That doesn't mean these 6 spots are only good for wintertime, far from it, they are all very special places that are beautiful places to be any time of year, it's just they look even better in the winter months.

Here it is early January and winter has set in. We have had a couple of significant snow storms and unfortunately lots of rain as well, but we all know that the season has just begun. That means we have to settle into it and not fight it. If you are already getting a sense of dreaded "cabin fever" (being inside the house too long) then it's time to hit the road Jack and head to one of these great six New England towns. They are all worthy of their ranking as part of the top 20 most beautiful winter towns in the country and they're all close by, so fill up the tank and pack a bag. You can hit the slopes, or take a scenic horse drawn ride through the town or relax by  a cozy fire with a hot drink on  a cold New England night.

Travel and Leisure magazine says; The picturesque New Hampshire town is a paradise for skiing, snowboarding, and family-friendly sledding, and if you'd prefer to take in your nature views from the comfort of a heated coach, you can, thanks to the Conway Scenic Railroad. Located just a 2.5 hour drive from Boston, North Conway has everything all year round, but you can't beat it's location for winter activities and much more.

Travel and Leisure says; Outdoor activities run the gamut from downhill skiing and ice skating to snowmobiling and fat biking. Photographers and sightseers, meanwhile, will love the frozen Bingham Falls, the town's multiple covered bridges, and the quintessential New England architecture. Stowe is a 3.5 hour drive from Boston and well worth it. Beautiful mountain scenery for both skiers and non skiers alike, there's nothing to not like about Stowe, so go!

Travel and Leisure says; Mystic is a quaint old town on the Connecticut shore that’s well known for its long-standing maritime traditions (and for the 1988 film "Mystic Pizza"), but it's a sleeper hit in the winter. You can get to Mystic in just over 2 hours from Boston. Once there you will enjoy the amazing food scene and of course you have to go to Mystic Pizza and take in the charm of this amazing town.

Travel and Leisure says; Most of the popular vacation towns in Maine are summer retreats that slow down considerably in the colder months. This means winter visitors to Kennebunkport can enjoy scenic coastal walks and a community that's as charming as ever — minus the peak-season swarms. Kennebunkport is about a 90 minute drive from Boston and is just as fun in the winter as the summer months. The best news is, all the restaurants are open, but you won't have the long waits, and the Bush family will be out of town so you won't have to worry about the secret service scoping you out.

Travel and Leisure says; A well-established summer escape for New Englanders, Lenox is steadily growing its reputation as a winter getaway, too. During the colder months, snow-dusted scenery, as well as cultural happenings at the many museums, theaters, and music halls, make this Berkshires town an utterly enchanting choice. Lenox is located just over 2 hours west of Boston and if you have never been, then you literally don't know what you are missing. Lenox is beautiful in all seasons, but comes alive in the winter months. Sure you know about Tanglewood and the great concerts and events but Lenox offers much more as well. You can plan a very fulfilling weekend in this wonderful town.

Travel and Leisure says; Vermont isn’t lacking in outstanding winter escapes, but anyone who's visited during the colder months will tell you that Woodstock is one of the best. This adorable town sets itself apart with rolling hills, old covered bridges, and historic architecture. Woodstock is just under 3 hours from Boston and offers some of the most charming Bed and Breakfast inn and cabins in all of New England. It is a beautiful town for all seasons, but there's something special about Woodstock in the winter. Be sure to come home with a nice bottle of Vermont maple syrup!