I am still attempting to pay off my student loans.
My job is an entry level position, and I’m not making much money.
Some months, I barely cover my expenses. Because of this, I’m living in a cramped, outdated apartment. It’s all I can afford. Unfortunately, the utilities are not included in the low cost of rent. I take every possible step to minimize energy waste and lessen demands on the heating and cooling system. All of the windows in the apartment are very old and leak a tremendous amount of air. Many of them are painted shut. In the winter, I put plastic over the windows but keep the shades open whenever the sun is shining. I’m hoping to warm up the space in anyway possible. I roll up towels and place them along the windows sills and against the bottom of exterior doors. I also adjust the thermostat as low as I can tolerate it. I dress in layers of sweaters and wear slippers because the apartment is freezing cold. A heated blanket on the bed helps at night, but it’s difficult to get up in the mornings. The tile floors are downright icy under my feet. Despite all my efforts, my heating bills are still a drain on my budget. The heating unit isn’t energy efficient and the weather in this area brings temperatures down to negative twenty degrees. In the summer, I just go without air conditioning. Even when it’s ninety degrees outside with high humidity, I can’t afford to run the cooling system. I plug in a few box fans and take lots of cool showers. I can’t wait until I can afford to rent an apartment with modern temperature control.