Light Bills and Crayon Marks

[Vickie]

We have lived in our home for about 2 months. Our first light bill was $300.00. I can't believe it was this much. It was very cold and snowy but still? For about the first 2 weeks our home did not have the perimeter blocking around it and was wondering if this made a difference. We also now have our gas logs hooked up so we are hoping we these two factors - that it is lower this month. Any comments please (32 by 80)

Also our 3 year old has already marked up her walls with black crayon - any ideas on what might get this off.

[rmurray]

Your first bill might very well be a little higher than usual...first the underpinning makes a great difference in cold weather...Second...usually the first bill is for more days than the usual bill....just getting the home lined up with normal meter reading times...of course...$ 300 energy bills for a 2400 square foot home are not all that unusual either...
I cannot help much with the crayons......but keep magic markers away from the little person...

[Vickie]

Thank you for the information - We wondered about the size of the home and the light bill. We lived before in a 1200 square foot basement house and our light bill in the coldest month would be about 150.00.

No magic markers - but the crayons just appear out of nowhere.

[Mrs X]

Hey, Vickie - I just checked my Hints from Heloise book which says that crayon marks can be removed with silver polish. Another remedy is to rub very gently with a DRY soap-filled steel wool pad - or rub very gently with a damp cloth sprinkled with baking soda.

Nail polish remover might also work, but you have to be careful about taking the color out of the wallpaper/vinyl.

[JohnnyJ]

I am assuming that you heat with electric. My LP gas for January ran about $500.
My "light bill" was $74. If we weren't planning to buy an MH this year, I would
replace the central heating unit with a heat pump. You came out about $274
better than us. I expect to have a lot lower electric bill in a well insulated MH
versus my drafty ca. 1920 farm house.

Underpinning your MH is a necessity, not only for heating and AC, but to keep
the critters out. The wind chill effect is going to be the temperature of your
exposed underside until you fix it. No wind = No wind chill.

[Paula]

Vickie,
As a former preschool teacher I can help with the crayons. Use Goo Gone. It's safe for your surface, but will get the crayon out. Good luck!
Paula

[peggy]

Toothpaste works on crayon also, I learned the hard way along time ago.. good luck!!!

[Vickie]

Thank you so much for all of the helpful hints about the crayons. I am anxious to get started tomorrow and see what works.

Johnny - I would have freaked if this was my light bill - and yes we have electric heat and put gas logs in to help with heat and also for decorative reasons. Should get our light bill this week - will keep you posted. Good luck on your move

[Carla]

We moved in on the 1st of this month and as a mom to 4 kids, my walls have been under attack already. Somehow a non washable crayon appeared in my 2 year olds hands. I tried alot of things but here is how it is done. GOO GONE. you can get it jsut about anywhere, home depot carries a 32 oz bottle for 6 dollars. Pour some on a rag , rub in a circular motion and with a little work It goes away. (our walls are white with texture so the circular motion got in the grooves.

[Vickie]

Hey everyone - we got our light bill for our 2nd month. Remember we had a 300.00 light bill our first month. Since then we got our gas installed and also our block done and this month our light bill was 145.00. Just wanted to let you know. We were happy.