gerisullivan | Here's hoping for a warm winter

...an exceptionally warm winter.

I received my annual fuel oil budget statement in today's mail.

First, some history:

2004-05 heating season
Oil used: 782.1 gallons
Total price paid: $1,472.30
Average price per gallon: $1.88
Monthly budget payment: $133.00 -- I had a $167 credit at the end of the season

2005-06 heating season
Oil used: 715 gallons
Total price paid: $1,655.65
Average price per gallon: $2.32
Monthly budget payment: $133.00 -- I had a $148 credit at the end of the season

2006-07 heating season
Oil used: 734 gallons
Total price paid: $1,688.75
Average price per gallon: $2.30
Monthly budget payment: $169.00 -- I had a $366 credit at the end of the season

2007-08 heating season
Oil used: 844.2 gallons
Total price paid: $2,872.07
Average price per gallon: $3.40
Monthly budget payment: $134.00 -- +$1,000 at the end of the season -- first year I owed them money

2008-09 monthly budget payment: $342.00
Which tells me they're estimating in the $4.75-5.00/gallon range. Given that prices are currently $4.40 and what they've been doing over the past 1-2 years, I can say I blame them.

This Girl Homeowner hasn't a clue as to where another $200 is going to come from each month. All I know right now is that's $200/month that won't be going to pay down debt, and that's going to suck.

I was mentally ready for my budget to go up $100-135/month. You know, just a little 75-100% increase...

But no, I get a 155% increase. Lucky me. Maybe prices will come down and they'll drop the budget amount mid-season, but that's not the way to be.

Those paying close attention (as I am right now) will notice that my fuel consumption jumped way up last year. I attribute that to three factors:

1) I was home more than usual. No month-long February absence tending to a dying mother. That's why 2005-06 has the lowest consumption. Fewer road trips and long weekends away (with the heat turned downed).

2) Harsh winter. Long. Lots of cold. I haven't looked up the specifics, this is just how I remember it. I could be wrong.

3) I had set-back thermostats installed. Yes, they're supposed to save money rather than increase, but in my case, I think they did the opposite. I used to push the temperature to the lowest setting possible -- basically off -- downstairs, and left it there all winter upstairs. That's what led to the pipes freezing during a cold snap at the end of the 2006-07 heating season, so I was more cautious with my settings this last year.

If I had the money, I'd have new windows installed. I don't know how many gallons of oil that would save each year, but I'm confident it's in the high double digits and perhaps even triple digits as all but a couple of the windows here are single pane glass with no storm windows. Yes, that's insane. What's worse, the frames are such that standard window plastic is a profound annoyance to use and there are some places where it just plain won't seal at all. The thermal-lined Roman shades Susan made for me help cut down the drafts in my office, and I spent most of last winter bundled up in two layers of sweaters, but that clearly wasn't enough.

I'll have to figure out something. I'll simply have to.

I feel like I'm in an episode of Tom Corbett, Space Cadet.

And I feel like the rest of the country, and much of the world, is here with me.