In an El Nino winter, the many ways I feel wealthy
December 30, 2015
Y’all, I’ve never been so cold in my life in Southern CA. Our semi-mountain hometown is already seeing temperatures below 30 degrees F, it’s just the start of winter, and this year may be the biggest El Nino ever. As it is, for us native Southern Californians, these temps are just cause to burrow indoors and not emerge til Spring. If this gets much worse…. well.
This means post-Christmas is now about looking for warm things for Dad and somehow making sure that he uses them. The house is a mess, the landlord still hasn’t fixed some key things that ever so frustratingly affect the heating situation so while of course he wouldn’t actually tell me, I’m quite positive that Dad neither has enough warm clothing or enough warm blankets for the frigid nights. It’s horrible to harbor the suspicion that if I don’t do something about it, he cannot survive the rest of this El Nino winter.
Naturally, not doing something isn’t an option. A heavy fill down comforter is on the way, and it had better arrive this week! Now the quest is on for a really warm jacket. He’ll probably feel ridiculous in a puffer jacket but that may be the best choice to keep him from freezing and shattering into tiny Dad-bits and pieces. I’m scouring Amazon, LL Bean, and REI for a reasonably priced, minimum 700-fill, good quality coat. My store requirements, as always, are a good return policy, and fast/free shipping. Most jackets seem to run above $100 and are closer to $200. Is that normal? Probably is for a good high-quality jacket which should really last him years. It’s been more than a decade since I shopped for men’s jackets.
Maybe a few flannel or thermal shirts and pants would be useful, too? While I’m obviously willing to spend some money to make sure he’s comfortable, it’s also clearly not limitless, so I have to make the best use of the funds I have. Any frugal keeping warm solutions are welcome.
Gratitude, when frosty or toasty
While I’m searching, and click click clicking online to find the best deal for the best thing, I am ever so grateful for the ability to see a problem and having enough that I can throw some money at it. And it’s one of the many things that, though we’re not wealthy, makes me feel wealthy.
Some of the most trivial things but therein lies the privilege of having enough.
Turning on the heat when we are bundled in socks and sweaters so we don’t have to pile on a jacket inside. Also, not having to sleep bundled in our winter coats at night.
Owning books. As a child, I was starved for books. We didn’t own any, my parents encouraged reading in the abstract but our $20-30K (at best) annual household income meant I spent a lot of time reading all the books at the local library and gobbling up any books I encountered anywhere. If you had a book, I was willing to be your friend long enough to read it before I had to go home. (If there’s anything I would overcompensate on for LB to make up for my childhood, it’s this right here. I already do.)
Machine washing clothes. It wasn’t that long ago that we were visiting Gram in the countryside and handwashing and linedrying all our clothes. Robots that automatically clean AND dry your clothes? LUXURY.
An investment portfolio. 15 years ago, “savings” meant filling my piggybank, a gift for my 7th birthday, with all my paychecks that weren’t already spent on bills. Now, I can spend a fairly respectable sum each year on the gift of future income. How incredibly rad is that? (hint: OMGOSH so rad)
Really warm socks with no holes. Growing up, all my socks were hand me downs and/or the sort of cheapish variety that practically came with holes in them. About six years ago, we splurged on three pairs of these incredible Thorlos and they are practically still as good as new, even after heavy duty wearing during Comic Con and just generally keeping my feet warm.
A close second: fuzzy socks. They’re not as luxurious, they tend to run thin, but they are fun and warm.
Having enough postage, toilet paper, toothbrushes. You wouldn’t think much of any of these until you run out and there’s no money for more. Or you use your toothbrush until the bristles only go sideways because you can’t imagine throwing out a toothbrush. This is why I’ve got a package of toothbrushes and toothpaste made up for Dad, too. I’m sure he won’t spend any of his cash on them.
A good quality fiber fill coat may be less expensive and just as warm for dad. Lands End was always my favorite vendor for outerwear, although I wasn’t as happy about the “slim fit” of the last coat because it doesn’t allow as much room for stuffing a hat and bulky gloves in the pockets.
Flannel is good for shirts. What about some thermals to wear under pants, too.? I’ve been using my Smartwool and Icebreaker long underwear a lot this year. Wool is really the best for keeping warm and dry, so wool socks and wool under layers are a must for me at this time of year. Campmor is sometimes a good place to deals on stuff like this. A small scarf around his neck even indoors can help him feel warmer, too. At night, a heated mattress pad can be a real delight.
A comfy, warm bed is my luxury. 🙂 But being able to buy whatever I want at the grocery store and farmers markets is a close second.
Oh that’s a good idea, I had forgotten about Land’s End but they are a decent quality, aren’t they?
Thanks for the brand suggestions, I’ve no experience with the thermals so this is a great place to start.
Warmth and food – perfect priorities 😀
I snickered at the 30 degrees being cold, but the rest of the beginning of the post was rather concerning. What is it about his home that the landlord has to fix that’s affecting the heat in the house? Is it an issue with actually heating the house, or is it an issue with the heat leaving the house? I can understand if the house isn’t adequately insulated for cooler temperatures, but if it’s an issue with air leaking from the windows and doors there are ways to help combat that. If his windows are leaking air I’d grab a roll of clear plastic film and double sided tape from the hardware store and seal off all of the windows with it. You can get kits that have individual windows cut out already, but buying the roll of plastic with the tape is much more cost effective. If the weather stripping on the door is toast, you can keep some of the cold air outside by rolling a towel up and putting it at the base of the door.
$100 to $200 does not seem out of line for a good quality winter jacket. I’ve seen poor quality winter jackets in that price range, so if you’ve found a good quality coat at that price I’d say that’s pretty alright.
If cost is a concern, get him a good pair of thick slippers and a housecoat that he can wear around the house over his existing clothes when it’s cold. If you don’t mind spending a little extra money, get him a set of merino wool long underwear. You might even be able to find it on sale right now. If you need to spread it out I’d get him a long sleeved shirt and pair of socks now, and get him the pants later. Personally, I find merino is way better than synthetics in terms of keeping warm. My husband wears it when he’s hunting up north, and he’s out in the bush for hours at a time.
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Oh sure, mock the poor, thin-blooded, SoCal-nian! 😉 I know it’s ridiculous to those of you who have real winter but remember, not that long ago, my perfect temp range was 79-89 degrees F! I’ve only just stopped complaining about freezing in low 60s.
The problem is both with keeping the heat in and the heating system itself may not be in good repair. Thanks for the reminder about covering the windows, though, that’s going to be useful for both him and another friend!
Your suggestions are all so helpful, thanks for taking the time.
I second the idea for thermal underwear. I have two kinds, cotton and polypro; the cotton ones are for when it goes below zero and I’m just chilly and the polypro are for when I have to be outdoors for a stretch (walking, say, or attending the Talkeetna Bachelors Auction and Wilderness Woman Competition).
Flannel sheets — yesssssss.
Hot drinks. Green tea or what have you, they’re just soothing.
A rice sock on your feet or around your neck.
A heated throw.
Snuggling with your sweetheart (unless you’re having joint pain, in which case I suggest snuggling with a heated throw).
Stay warm! We’re having a williwaw that brought with it temps in the 40s and all the snow has melted. Weird and cranky-making weather.
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Thanks so much for the thoughts – as a thermal underwear novice, I didn’t know where to start or what to focus on. Hadn’t ever heard of polypro, even 🙂
Happy New Year to you!!! 🙂
Another thing to be grateful for: You live in a town where they probably don’t sell heat pumps for your central HVAC. When the outdoor temp drops below what it is at the North Pole just now, a heat pump freezes up. At 7 this morning, it was 58 inside the house (much cozier than the back porch’s temp, thank you dear Block Walls!). By 9, the house was warmed up to 62 and the system was blowing icy air into the shack.
I got one of those heated throws for TempRoommate, because she about froze to death trying to sleep on an air mattress laid on tile floors. She didn’t use it, so now it’s ALL MINE. Yay! That thing is the business!
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Happy New Year!
I … I don’t know anything about heat pumps and freezing so I am duly QUITE grateful for that. And goody for having the heated throw! Stay warm and I hope you get better soon!
OOOH, Kiwis are experts at staying warm in houses with zero insulation or supplied heating. Quick story: Legally and contractually, my friend’s rental had to come with heating. When the LL was asked about it during last winter, the LL pointed to the walls and roof and said that they absorbed heat during the day and emitted the absorbed heat during the night: “That’s your heating.” ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Ridiculous. Here is how we cope without fireplaces/central air:
1. electric kettle + hot water bottle for the feet/body in bed
2. electric blanket. Godsend.
3. Nice down duvet.
4. Thick, wool socks.
5. Merino everything. (note: I’m only slightly allergic to wool and even the finest merino still bothers me.) Alternative: fleece/flannel.
6. oil or electric heater for heating single rooms/small spaces.
That is a level of nonsense I am barely able to wrap my mind around. The walls and the roof? REALLY???
Mmm wool socks… I also love my fleece leggings so am all over the fleecey things.
Tell me more about the electric blanket, if you would? What kind is good, that you’ve found?
Oh. Well…I just got the generic version from New Zealand’s The Warehouse store. I’m less helpful for US brands these days…sorry!
Thinking warm thoughts for you. Happy New Year!
All those things are absolutely true. However…in comparison to what life was like just 30 or 40 years ago, when I was your age, I’d say we’re slipping.
Laundry? I have to wash most of my clothes by hand anyway, because the hotshot “high efficiency” washer spends an hour and ten minutes doing what ought to be a 20-minute job, then delivers a load of wash tangled into braids(!) and sometimes not even wet through.
Heat? The highly efficient heat pump seizes up when temps drop below 40 here. It was 59 degrees in the house this morning; two hours of running the heater brought the temp up three degrees and caused the machine to push icy air through the vents. As I scribble, I’m huddled in front of a space heater.
Books? I really, REALLY miss bookstores. Sorry, but Kindle a reading experience does not deliver.
Investment portfolio? Mine is respectable. But if it weren’t for Social Security, it wouldn’t last to the end of my lifetime.
Warm socks? Thank the heavens!!!
Postage? Yeah, okay, even at the elevated price, it’s a bargain. If only we didn’t have an organized ring of thieves raiding mailboxes here in the ‘hood, causing those of us who would like not to have packages, prescriptions, and financial paperwork stolen to have to spend $200+ on fortified mailboxes. 😀 Back in the day, the mailman (yeah, he usually was male: a mailmale) came around on foot and pushed the mail through a slot in your front door or wall. Impossible to steal unless you broke into the house.
Life’s good, but the things that make it that way aren’t material. For example: a daughter who cares enough to build a care package and deliver it to her dad. There’s something that can’t be beat. 😉
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I would lament the washing machine forever. But I wonder why yours is such a pill, we’ve got maybe a mid-range model and it’s about 89% fine. 11% is when the stupid spin cycle doesn’t work properly and then when I tell is JUST to spin, it rinses and spins. Then I stand there and yell at it: WE ARE IN A DROUGHT! STOP WASTING WATER!
It doesn’t happen 11% of the time, that’s just my level of irritation relative to the non-irritation.
Are wall / door mail slots hugely uncommon now? I can’t remember the last time I saw one, myself, except at a Grandma’s house. (Not mine 🙂 )
I feel wealthy today for being able to comfortably pay for pet care (i.e. Check-ups, investigations, medications). Growing up although our family loved having lots of animals, we were also very poor and often resorted to last minute having to put them down because we could not afford stuff earlier in the treatment phase. Happy new year!
Oh that’s a fabulous one and I can’t believe I forgot to list that. We weren’t able to afford regular pet care either, so that was the first thing my pocket money (gifts from birthdays or Christmas) went to as early as 13. I am so glad that we can afford to truly take care of our pets now.
I love the Nightmare Before Christmas cardigan I got last year. Tucking myself up in a chair while wearing that makes me feel cozy. But now I have the TARDIS robe too, which also feels all snug and cozy. It’s a quandary — especially given how short real winter is here.
But I don’t feel quite so wimpy when I read the temps. Today it was 41 degrees at 10 a.m. WTF?
And yes, good jackets really do cost that much. It’s insane, but unless you’re in a climate that’s regularly cold (so has more mid-range options), you don’t have a lot of options.
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Oh I missed the cardigan! What a great selection you have now 🙂
You understand my cooler temps problem! We’re so used to highs of 100+….
You’re right about not having many options :/
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Oh, shivers. Sense has it pretty covered on the ‘how to warm up’ front. We also have one of those wheat bags you microwave until hot. Also, leggings under pants or double pantsing….it’s a thing.
Buying name brand (for TP and ketchup and a few other things) makes me feel wealthy.
Sounds like a bit of a horror show these holidays huh? Major blow about the car (god it always happens right after you’ve sunk some money into it). Glad you are ok so far and hope it stays that way.
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The holidays this year, they did not impress.
Happy new year to you!
A good-sized bed to sleep in with soft, wonderful sheets and covers. Heat. Speaking of which, we didn’t have much for a bit because our thermostat shorted. In mid-December. Woo.
Money to buy a new warm hat if I’m out and about and I forgot mine. A nice collection of scarves, gloves, and warm hats.
Fancy toilet paper and kleenex. I totally judge people who have cheap toilet paper.
A nest egg for future me.
I can’t even name all of the ways I feel wealthy any more. I just am and it’s such a peaceful feeling. It’s far, far more peaceful with it being my wealth than my parents’ wealth though. To not really feel that dependent on anyone or anything, other than my partner for snuggles. I’ve become so much more relaxed about money, which is a great feeling after my mom’s scroogeness growing up.
I remember dating someone who had come from a poorer background than me in college and he thought I was spendy, which was an interesting perspective.
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To not really feel that dependent on anyone or anything, other than my partner for snuggles.
YES. What an amazing feeling.
Wait a second – how cheap are we talking with the toilet paper? 😀
Didn’t read the other comments thoroughly but had a giggle at ‘I totally judge people with cheap TP’. When I want to be warm I make sure I’m dry then go for real wool or silk. The latter is harder to find at a decent price, my pieces are ancient, but wool isn’t too awfully priced and it beats the heck out of a lot of other bulky stuff. Here in England the key is not a bulky outer layer but several thin layers to be peeled off or added as needed. That’s how to control the body temp without choosing the extremes. I feel wealthy not being cold in my house, not having to go out to work, not worrying about food, having a car, all the things a lot of folks foolishly take for granted. What’s the point of being wealthy if you don’t realise it and enjoy? Happy 2016 to you!
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Well now I’m worried that our TP is too cheap 😀
What’s the point of being wealthy if you don’t realise it and enjoy?
So true! It’s so easy to take things for granted when it truly doesn’t need to be high wealth to be enjoyed, does it?
I would definitely recommend thermal leggings and tops. I got a pretty good deal on Amazon. You can get good jackets on Ebay but I don’t think you have time to shop around for that. El Nino is here!
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Luckily, PiC has found a theoretically good coat and it’s been ordered!
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