If you have been putting off getting new more efficient windows, caulking your window and door frames or even moving to a warmer climate, this may be the year to do it. According to the Farmers’ Almanac , which goes on sale this week, most of the United States of America will see colder than average temperatures with more snowfall than usual.
This news is especially harsh considering that the cost of home heating fuel has risen so much. We kept our thermostat pretty low last year and got by, but the cost of our oil has increased for this coming year. And with more colder degree days predicted, I can only imagine what will be the cost to heat our home.
Two-thirds of the nation are in for a harsher winter than we had last year, with only the far west and the southeast to see average temperatures, according to the Farmers’ Almanac . The magazine makes its predictions two years in advance and claims a 80-85 percent accuracy rate. The predictions are made by a reclusive person who uses a secret formula that takes into consideration such factors as sun spots, the tidal pull of the moon, the positions of the planets, the frequency of fog and the amount of acorns that are produced in a season.
We do usually keep a Farmers’ Almanac around the house, usually for the unusual stories that are including in the magazine, such as the winner of the watermelon spitting contest and the article about pets that come back to visit after death. The ads are pretty interesting, too. Did you know that you could buy your own machine that will produce compost that you can then sell for profit?
We also do look at the weather predictions, and I do have to say that although they may be off by a day or two, they do seem surprisingly accurate, although it did miss the freak hail storm we had a couple of weeks ago.
What do you think? Will we be in for more winter soon?
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog and caring for little ones in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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