Refusing to use AC at home (old, money)

[BigD_JT_14221]

Ok, so it's 87 degrees out right now. I work from home and try use the AC as little as possible because the whole point of my negotiating the ability to work from home was to save money. Inside temp is 81. I have not had the AC on today at all.
I'm in shorts, a tee shirt and have a fan going in my office. And yes I am bordering on uncomfortable.
Am I being overly "cheap" by not closing the windows and using the AC?
My wife thinks I'm bat-***** crazy. LOL
What does the frugal living community think???

[ragnarkar]

I generally don't turn the AC on until it's unbearable.. unbearable for me is anything over 90 degrees. If it's not too hot, the AC isn't worth the discomfort (from the smells and dryness.)

I also rely on an evaporative cooler.. in California where it's not super humid, they're an option but I'm not sure about your area.

[eggalegga]

Once my inside temp is above 78, the a/c is on....or I go hang-out in the basement.

Prior to having A/C, I cooled my house with a swamp cooler. They're quite popular in dry climates. They're a lot cheaper than central a/c. They cool inside temps up to 20 degrees from outside temps. On 100+ degree days, sometimes they struggle to cool the house. I miss those days of summer power bills under $40/month.

[leftmyheartintennessee]

I don't think so...I'm doing the same thing...don't need to have a $200 electric bill this early in the
season from running the AC...especially since I have a housemate who had the AC set at 65* all
last summer and I had to wear long pants and l/s shirts in my own home as it was too cold for me...
It's gonna happen but it doesn't have to happen just yet, if I can get away with it...

[BigD_JT_14221]

Originally Posted by eggalegga

Once my inside temp is above 78, the a/c is on....or I go hang-out in the basement.

Oh how I miss having a basement!

[8635angelvalley]

Don't make yourself miserable to save a couple bucks.

[jt1969]

Go to a coffee shop or library and work. Plenty of free AC there!

[BigD_JT_14221]

Originally Posted by leftmyheartintennessee

I don't think so...I'm doing the same thing...don't need to have a $200 electric bill this early in the
season from running the AC...especially since I have a housemate who had the AC set at 65* all
last summer and I had to wear long pants and l/s shirts in my own home as it was too cold for me...
It's gonna happen but it doesn't have to happen just yet, if I can get away with it...

Your housemate and my wife would get along great
$200 electric bills are nothing. We hit almost $500 last summer even with me running around the house playing "AC Nazi" with the thermostats

[MaryleeII]

I also work from home and know what you mean about using the AC

However, one must do what one must do!

I assume you know---

You can write off your utilities--pro-rated-as a business expense, even if you don't take a home office deduction.

Anything you buy specifically for your home office is a deduction, like heavy drapes, fan, etc, it doesn't have to be just office equipment

If your office is a seperate room, try a window unit AC, cheaper than AC the whole house

Try closing off unused rooms in the day

Work naked

Hope some of these tips help!

[BigD_JT_14221]

Originally Posted by jt1969

Go to a coffee shop or library and work. Plenty of free AC there!

True, but I'd have to burn gas in the car to go to those places and I'd feel obligated to buy something at a coffee shop and it's noisy. Library wouldn't work as I'm on the phone 75% of my working day and would disrupt others.