Well I knew it was coming, and it didnt fail to astonish me. The writing is on the wall. The "last nail in the coffin" as the saying goes. What am I talking about?
Well the non sexy, non dramatic, but none the less economic deadly, cost of winter heating oil. You see those who choose budget plans ( you choose to spread the heating oil cost over 12 months)are beginning to get their AUGUST bill which for many in the NE is our first payment toward the upcoming heating calendar year.
For some perspective, I live in NJ, not New England, My house is not enormous by ANY imagination ( typical nice 3 bedrooms 1.5 baths etc), we keep the thermostat between 62 and 65 AND yet here is our new monthly bill , you ready...
its $500!!, yep, to heat a modest home in NJ now cost $6000 a YEAR!!!!. Just 2 to 3 years ago it was $1500-2000. SO while wages have become stagnant, to keep warm in NJ ( where it doesnt even get that cold anymore) has risen by $4ooo in just a year or two.
I am sitting here sweating, yet I now have to pay a 500 heating bill, something is not right.
Now we are sorta of lucky where we arent at the point (YET)between choosing between heat and food, but this will basically destroy our vacation and possibly christmas plans.
Here in america, a family making just short of 6 figures a year, now has to huddle around space heaters to keep warm. How pathetic is that?
I know there are options, but for many people who struggle to pay a monthly heating bill, paying thousands and thousands of dollars out of pocket to switch to other heating source really isnt an option.
so thats where we are.
If we arent already in a huge recession, guess what? the NE is gonna lead us there.