Need advice on our living situation -

[Amethyste]

Date: 2/12/2010 2:21:12 PM
Author: monarch64

Date: 2/12/2010 2:17:29 PM
Author: swingirl
I don''t mean to be offensive but you paying $1000 for a 3 bedroom apartment, have a 5 ct yellow pear and you want to break your lease because you can''t afford the heating bill?

I make per year the cost of that ring. My heating bills are over $200, yet I haven''t applied for fuel assistance programs and I''m getting by. I don''t mean to be offensive either, but I have to admit it burns me a bit inside to see someone complaining about heating costs when there are people who are actually struggling to put food on the table, gas in the car to get to work, etc.

As I mentionned earlier - since the purchase of my pear - I have had health issues to take care of that are not covered by my modest health insurance that I am dealing with extra cost as the moment that have upset everything i could have budgeted for. I WAS able to cover everything before and still can. but I was trying to find creartive ways to either move without incurring too bad of a hit. I know the landlord didn''t do anything wrong, and she is a nice lady, and she is not running a charity organization. I respect her as a person and have had open and honest conversations with her... i was just trying to explore other ways of thoughts by posting this here looking for others that might have gone through what I am at the moment...

 

[waterlilly]

What about the window insulation kits many people have mentioned, have you tried those ?

Don''t even respond to the comments regarding your diamond, not worth it.

 

[Amethyste]

Date: 2/12/2010 4:07:14 PM
Author: waterlilly
What about the window insulation kits many people have mentioned, have you tried those ?

Don't even respond to the comments regarding your diamond, not worth it.

I did try... but because the wood work around the windows is uneven, the sticky doesn't seal well after running the blowdryer on the edges - i have that on some of the windows upstairs, but there are many downstairs that it just doesnt work on - I just tried this a week ago. maybe I need to get good tape and just tape it that way... Project to do this weekend!

 

[LGK]

I had that situation occur in one of the apartments I lived in as a college student- yeah, nothing more awesome than knowing the money is just getting poured into a bottomless pit! Unfortunately as much as it does suck, as others have said, you''re probably stuck with it til the lease runs out.

It''s great you found a better place already though!

Meanwhile, may I suggest a radiant heat dish? If you have no clue what I''m talking about

: they are big reflective parabolic dishes with a small heating coil in the center- the heat hits the big dish and reflects and amplifies... much more efficient & cheaper to run than a regular space heater. Those things are amazingly cheap energy-wise and are quite toasty. We have no central heat in our condo (we could put it in but we also need to do stuff like... put the dishwasher in first) so this winter we''ve used a couple of those and it''s usually plenty warm.

And a bonus: if you have a kitty, they''ll probably fall in passionate love with it. Our cat Sonar adores "her" heat dish, and when we brought it out again this winter she ran up to it and wrapped her paws around it and rubbed all over it like it was a long lost lover. Then she happily singes her whiskers on it... we joke about how we have to unplug the cat for the night when we turn the dish off.

 

[waterlilly]

Date: 2/12/2010 4:12:03 PM
Author: Amethyste

Date: 2/12/2010 4:07:14 PM

Author: waterlilly

What about the window insulation kits many people have mentioned, have you tried those ?


Don''t even respond to the comments regarding your diamond, not worth it.

I did try... but because the wood work around the windows is uneven, the sticky doesn''t seal well - i have that on some of the windows upstairs, but there are many downstairs that it just doesnt work on - I just tried this a week ago. maybe I need to get good tape and just tape it that way... Project to do this weekend!

I had the same problem and when it gets really cold they start to come unstuck - but you can use duct tape (real attractive, I know) or some other tape to get an extra seal. Maybe try the weather stripping too that you can buy in a big roll, put that around all the seams inside to see if it helps. It''s amazing how just one crappy window can suck the heat out of your house, def. worth trying to seal them up.

 

[Amethyste]

Date: 2/12/2010 4:17:06 PM
Author: LittleGreyKitten
I had that situation occur in one of the apartments I lived in as a college student- yeah, nothing more awesome than knowing the money is just getting poured into a bottomless pit! Unfortunately as much as it does suck, as others have said, you''re probably stuck with it til the lease runs out.

It''s great you found a better place already though!

Meanwhile, may I suggest a radiant heat dish? If you have no clue what I''m talking about

: they are big reflective parabolic dishes with a small heating coil in the center- the heat hits the big dish and reflects and amplifies... much more efficient & cheaper to run than a regular space heater. Those things are amazingly cheap energy-wise and are quite toasty. We have no central heat in our condo (we could put it in but we also need to do stuff like... put the dishwasher in first) so this winter we''ve used a couple of those and it''s usually plenty warm.

And a bonus: if you have a kitty, they''ll probably fall in passionate love with it. Our cat Sonar adores ''her'' heat dish, and when we brought it out again this winter she ran up to it and wrapped her paws around it and rubbed all over it like it was a long lost lover. Then she happily singes her whiskers on it... we joke about how we have to unplug the cat for the night when we turn the dish off.

omg!!! i am laughing at this cause we do have a radiant heater and she plugs herself close to it, when i touch her, feels like a hot brick lol... She loves that thing!!!

 

[Amethyste]

Date: 2/12/2010 4:18:27 PM
Author: waterlilly

Date: 2/12/2010 4:12:03 PM
Author: Amethyste

Date: 2/12/2010 4:07:14 PM

Author: waterlilly

What about the window insulation kits many people have mentioned, have you tried those ?


Don''t even respond to the comments regarding your diamond, not worth it.

I did try... but because the wood work around the windows is uneven, the sticky doesn''t seal well - i have that on some of the windows upstairs, but there are many downstairs that it just doesnt work on - I just tried this a week ago. maybe I need to get good tape and just tape it that way... Project to do this weekend!

I had the same problem and when it gets really cold they start to come unstuck - but you can use duct tape (real attractive, I know) or some other tape to get an extra seal. Maybe try the weather stripping too that you can buy in a big roll, put that around all the seams inside to see if it helps. It''s amazing how just one crappy window can suck the heat out of your house, def. worth trying to seal them up.

that''s what is happening, on the cold night, our windows are drafty and pushes in and out the plastic covers and come undone... I''ll try super duper duct tape and see how it works

 

[LGK]

Date: 2/12/2010 4:25:14 PM
Author: Amethyste

Date: 2/12/2010 4:17:06 PM
Author: LittleGreyKitten
I had that situation occur in one of the apartments I lived in as a college student- yeah, nothing more awesome than knowing the money is just getting poured into a bottomless pit! Unfortunately as much as it does suck, as others have said, you''re probably stuck with it til the lease runs out.

It''s great you found a better place already though!

Meanwhile, may I suggest a radiant heat dish? If you have no clue what I''m talking about

: they are big reflective parabolic dishes with a small heating coil in the center- the heat hits the big dish and reflects and amplifies... much more efficient & cheaper to run than a regular space heater. Those things are amazingly cheap energy-wise and are quite toasty. We have no central heat in our condo (we could put it in but we also need to do stuff like... put the dishwasher in first) so this winter we''ve used a couple of those and it''s usually plenty warm.

And a bonus: if you have a kitty, they''ll probably fall in passionate love with it. Our cat Sonar adores ''her'' heat dish, and when we brought it out again this winter she ran up to it and wrapped her paws around it and rubbed all over it like it was a long lost lover. Then she happily singes her whiskers on it... we joke about how we have to unplug the cat for the night when we turn the dish off.

omg!!! i am laughing at this cause we do have a radiant heater and she plugs herself close to it, when i touch her, feels like a hot brick lol... She loves that thing!!!

Haha oh that''s awesome! It really is the best cat warmer ever. We call her stripes "grill marks" from the roasting in front of the heat dish. The one we bought had a picture of a cat laying in front of it on the box- definitely some truth in advertising there!

 

[kcoursolle]

As someone born and raised in the midwest in drafty homes, I also have to recommend the plastic widow kits. They will probably help a great deal and might even cut your heating bill in half.

 

[Loves Vintage]

In CT, our electric company will come out to do an energy audit for $60 or $80. They check for drafts, among other things, and do simple repairs to remedy issues discovered at no additional cost. Perhaps your electric company offers a similar program? Perhaps your landlord would be willing to pay the fee for the audit?

Note: This does not apply to customers who have electric heat only. It applies to those with oil heat as well.

 

[Loves Vintage]

The program is quite different in New Hampshire: http://www.nhec.com/residential_homeenergysolutions.php

You might suggest it to your landlord. Maybe she will take advantage of the program even though you are moving out.

 

[swimmer]

Amethyst,
I second the suggestion of getting that putty stuff to edge your windows, just jam tons of it in there, it will eventually stick and then the plastic "shrink wrap" kit. It costs like 10 for 6 windows at Home Depot, get the good stuff made by "duck tape" the cheap stuff just pulls away. I live in MA and have been in both insulated and not insulated houses. 3 winters ago we paid over 480 a month to keep (oil) the heat at 55, it would have been something like 600 without the shrink wrap and putty stuff. Now we are in a better place and leave the temp at 55 during the day but crank it to 65 for when we are home in the evening, and 55 back at night. We have gas so our bill is like 80 for a 2br apt. When I had electric in a similarly well insulated place, it cost over 300 a month to keep it not as warm as you want it. Electric is so expensive! Try to rent a place with gas if you can. I know it seems like we are living in the tundra and it is hard to imagine...but this is almost the end. Just survive the shortest month of the year, Feb and April will be here soon enough!

 

[monarch64]

Date: 2/12/2010 3:52:47 PM
Author: Amethyste

Date: 2/12/2010 2:21:12 PM
Author: monarch64

Date: 2/12/2010 2:17:29 PM
Author: swingirl
I don''t mean to be offensive but you paying $1000 for a 3 bedroom apartment, have a 5 ct yellow pear and you want to break your lease because you can''t afford the heating bill?

I make per year the cost of that ring. My heating bills are over $200, yet I haven''t applied for fuel assistance programs and I''m getting by. I don''t mean to be offensive either, but I have to admit it burns me a bit inside to see someone complaining about heating costs when there are people who are actually struggling to put food on the table, gas in the car to get to work, etc.

As I mentionned earlier - since the purchase of my pear - I have had health issues to take care of that are not covered by my modest health insurance that I am dealing with extra cost as the moment that have upset everything i could have budgeted for. I WAS able to cover everything before and still can. but I was trying to find creartive ways to either move without incurring too bad of a hit. I know the landlord didn''t do anything wrong, and she is a nice lady, and she is not running a charity organization. I respect her as a person and have had open and honest conversations with her... i was just trying to explore other ways of thoughts by posting this here looking for others that might have gone through what I am at the moment...

Amethyste, I am truly sorry if my comment came across as judgemental. I know it did and I should not have put forth my opinion, it was a reaction coming from my frustrations about my own financial situation and nothing to do with you. I took it upon myself to read some of your other posts and I looked at your ring thread in SMTR (it is really lovely, btw) where I noticed you mentioned that you saved for it for ~20 years. I read on the ebay thread the other day the bargain (but still very costly!) price you paid for it. When I looked at this thread and saw you were so upset about your heating bills I couldn''t figure out why, only knowing a couple of things about your situation. Now that I understand that there are several other circumstances the reason for your dismay is much more clear. I typed my opinion before I knew all the facts, I sincerely apologize for not thinking before speaking. I am just a human bean, after all!

My SO also used the plastic that has been recommended so many times here on his windows. It does help tremendously!

 

[Amethyste]

Date: 2/12/2010 6:18:57 PM
Author: monarch64

Date: 2/12/2010 3:52:47 PM

Amethyste, I am truly sorry if my comment came across as judgemental. I know it did and I should not have put forth my opinion, it was a reaction coming from my frustrations about my own financial situation and nothing to do with you. I took it upon myself to read some of your other posts and I looked at your ring thread in SMTR (it is really lovely, btw) where I noticed you mentioned that you saved for it for ~20 years. I read on the ebay thread the other day the bargain (but still very costly!) price you paid for it. When I looked at this thread and saw you were so upset about your heating bills I couldn''t figure out why, only knowing a couple of things about your situation. Now that I understand that there are several other circumstances the reason for your dismay is much more clear. I typed my opinion before I knew all the facts, I sincerely apologize for not thinking before speaking. I am just a human bean, after all!

My SO also used the plastic that has been recommended so many times here on his windows. It does help tremendously!

Monarch - thank you so much for your words - I am not upset. We are all human Thank you for understanding.

 

[Amethyste]

O
M
G
!!!!

*dancing*

My lease ENDS on 4/30/10!!!!!!!!!! I don''t have to worry too much about anything anymore! I guess the calculation I did were wrong.... so We move in April and the last month here is paid for April... Pheeeeeeeeeew! that''s awesome!

I am so happy now........

 

[yssie]

Yay Amethyste!!

Date: 2/12/2010 4:25:14 PM
Author: Amethyste

And a bonus: if you have a kitty, they''ll probably fall in passionate love with it. Our cat Sonar adores ''her'' heat dish, and when we brought it out again this winter she ran up to it and wrapped her paws around it and rubbed all over it like it was a long lost lover. Then she happily singes her whiskers on it... we joke about how we have to unplug the cat for the night when we turn the dish off.

omg!!! i am laughing at this cause we do have a radiant heater and she plugs herself close to it, when i touch her, feels like a hot brick lol... She loves that thing!!!

Love this visual

 

[Haven]

We have a particularly drafty home, Amethyste, I can relate to high heating bills. However, our bills have been in the $200s during the winter months, and we keep our house at 69 during the day and 58 at night. I can''t believe how expensive your heat is! We have natural gas heating.

DH did these things to help curb the cost:
Threshold sweeps under doors to block drafts
Replace the weather stripping inside door jambs
Put putty caulk in any drafty seams

As for breaking the lease, I''m sad to say that I agree with everyone else that there''s no way to do it without being penalized. You could try to sublease, if that''s allowed.

 

[Arcadian]

If the landlord isn't up to fixing the problem with the apartment, you can send them a registered letter, stating you will no longer pay them rent (put that money into escrow) until the problem is fixed.

You should also document all issues with the place. Take pictures of everything that is an issue.


Here's what can happen, you can be taken to court, or, they can let you out of your lease without penalty because you've now become "the problem tenant". So document anything and everything.


Do know your laws in this area before you go this route because you want to make damn sure if they harrass you, you have just cause to bounce without paying the end of the lease.


-A

 

[MichelleCarmen]

We broke our lease on our last place. The deal basically was that we had to keep paying rent until they rented the unit out.

ETA - I just read that you figured your lease will be up soon and everything is working out. Great news!

 

[y2kitty]

I am happy it has worked out to your satisfaction.

 

[Puppmom]

Not sure why the hostility about your ring because we all get to choose how to spend our money and it''s certainly understandable that you don''t want to spend an exorbitant amount on your heat.

I second what PinkAsscher said - make sure you''re not paying the heat for the other unit. I found out after living in my first apartment that I was. I was shocked by my electric bill but thought maybe that''s how much it cost. After they went up and up - I had the electric company come out to investigate. We unplugged EVERYTHING in my apartment and that dang meter was STILL spinning!

Monarch - not that my opinion counts but I thought it was so awesome of you to come back and apologizing. I admire you. I stink at saying sorry.

 

[Puppmom]

I think we all get to choose how to spend our money and it''s certainly understandable that you don''t want to spend an exorbitant amount on your heat regardless of your income or possessions.

I second what PinkAsscher said - make sure you''re not paying the heat for the other unit. I found out after living in my first apartment that I was. I was shocked by my electric bill but thought maybe that''s how much it cost. After they went up and up - I had the electric company come out to investigate. We unplugged EVERYTHING in my apartment and that dang meter was STILL spinning!

Monarch - not that my opinion counts but I thought it was so awesome of you to come back and apologize. I admire you. I stink at saying sorry.

 

[Puppmom]

Should have read further...just saw the good news. Yay!

 

[monarch64]

Thanks Puppmomm. Sometimes I'm just a dummy.

ETA: Amethyste, good to hear you have less time left on your lease than you thought. That is a relief, I'm sure.

 

[that_someone_special]

Date: 2/12/2010 4:07:14 PM
Author: waterlilly
What about the window insulation kits many people have mentioned, have you tried those ?


Don''t even respond to the comments regarding your diamond, not worth it.

I agree. The diamond has nothing to do with it.

I am at a loss though on what you should do, you are already keeping the place freezing and that''s not helping... I agree with perhaps covering the windows with plastic..???

 

[perry]

Amethyste:

I feel for you, and I do understand about old inefficient furnaces and boilers - drafty houses - and high heat bills - and living in a cold house.

Concerning your situation. Do Not Break The Lease and not pay the rent due... It may well go on your credit record; and if the Landlord takes legal action to recover the $$$ you owe them; you will also have a legal record that anyone can find (and employers often check for those things).

Do try to find a new tenant - even at a reduced rate. I once did an early termination of a lease by finding a new tenant at 3/4 of the rent - and then paying the landlord the difference (and I can't remember if I did that in one payment or two).

As much as its a real pinch right now... just chalk it up to experience and be very glad that you only signed a 6 month lease and are already half way through it.

Should money get really tight; you can try to negotiate with your landlord to pay partial rent with a promise to pay the shortfall within a few months of leaving.

I also suggest a down comforter....


Perry

When I purchased my house - after living in apartments for decades; I spent a lot of time sealing it when I got it - and then replaced the boiler with an "expensive" energy efficient new one. My gas use went down so much the gas company changed the meter thinking it had failed.

 

[Amethyste]

Date: 2/12/2010 4:17:06 PM
Author: LittleGreyKitten
Our cat Sonar adores ''her'' heat dish, and when we brought it out again this winter she ran up to it and wrapped her paws around it and rubbed all over it like it was a long lost lover. Then she happily singes her whiskers on it... we joke about how we have to unplug the cat for the night when we turn the dish off.

That..... it''s the cutest visual ever... does she have whiskers still?!

 

[Amethyste]

Everyone -

Thank you soooo much for all of your wonderful opinions and answers. I REALLY appreciate it!
Turns out that I didn''t do my math right and thought our lease ended on 5*31*10, but ends on 4*30*10. Which is a great relief!

I did call our electric company ( PSNH ) and asked the representative how much $$$ last year''s tenant paid in heat for the highest and lowest month at the unit I am going to be renting. The highest was $154 ( February ) and that is HEAT and usage. The new place''s rent includes hot water, which can run high when you take hot and lengthy showers like my husband loooooves to do . The lowest month was $52 ( May ). With budget planning I''ll end up paying approximately about $100 a month annually. That is NOT a bad deal.

The new place is cute as a button, 2 brs downstairs and right on top, the living room, kitchen and bathroom with a nice patio. I cannot wait to move in. The best part of it is that it will be $750 a month. Now that, I can afford without problem, heat included hehe.

 

[Amethyste]

Date: 2/12/2010 9:57:34 PM
Author: perry

When I purchased my house - after living in apartments for decades; I spent a lot of time sealing it when I got it - and then replaced the boiler with an ''expensive'' energy efficient new one. My gas use went down so much the gas company changed the meter thinking it had failed.

THAT IS SWEET !!!

 

[Amethyste]

After looking at the lease, I think she messed up:

Term of Lease: Begins on December 1,2009 and ends at 12:00 noon
on April 30,2010.

She is missing a month in there... That''s why I was thrown off.
can she come back to me and say: Well, it was supposed to be for 6 months and
that is not 6 months. Well, i go with what is written in my lease... So, I guess
she made a mistake...