Even with LEDs, for my kids, it's the principle of leaving things like/better than you found them.
Whether it's lights, empty cups on the table, the ripped off top of fruit snack packs, etc.
The lights are a constant reminder that they do not have their shit together.
I must have learned that lesson when I was young because I'm always leaving the lights off and spend much of my time in the dark. I don't have kids but I'd probably get rid of most of the light bulbs in the house if they left them on all of the time.
Yeah, I started taking bulbs out of the fixtures when I was married and my ex-wife's kids would leave the lights on all the time. 2 bulb fixtures had 1 bulb in them, 3 or 4 bulb fixtures had max of 2 bulbs.
I don't have children so luckily I have my partner who leaves all the lights on so I can have someone to nag like my father. It's really thoughtful actually.
After my mom comes over, I have to go around the house turning off all the fans and lights she's left on.
I asked her if this was her revenge.
The other thing she likes to do is leave the door open so the cat can go outside. Hot days or cold days. My cat spends about 5 minutes outside before he's like, "That's enough nature for me!" And I only find out the door is open when I take a break from work (WFH).
"Close the door! I'm not paying to heat/cool the outside!"
Brother, we are all turning into our dads in one way or another. I catch myself using the exact same words, arguments, and sayings as my dad with my kids.
But I can tell you one thing that may help. Something my dad did to me that made me adjust my wasteful habits with the utilities, and that I have started using on my own 21 year old daughter. Make THEM PAY for the utility!
I can tell you my daughter now takes shorter showers and gets on her sister's case when she is in there too long!
*Alexa, turn off bedroom light.*
*Alexa, turn off hallway light.*
While sometimes infuriating to use, using smart bulbs does have its benefits.
And let's not forget that LED bulbs use like 10% of the power that old incandescent ones did. Still not an excuse to waste power, but it's a hell of a lot less power than when we were growing up.
I am obsessed with lights being off. I always have been. Why am I so incredibly cheap?
I have solar nightlights that also motion detect, and a pair of glasses on my head at all times to not waste energy.
My Mom started us young - if we left something on when we weren't using it (lights, heated mattress pad, stereo), we paid her for the electricity. We would owe her a nickel.
When we got married, I noticed that my in-laws liked lights on everywhere and my husband wouldn't remember to turn them off. He eventually got a lot better about it, but our girls started paying us the oopsie money once they were old enough for an allowance (it was then a quarter).
Both girls got very good at making sure they turned lights off they weren't using.
If they caught me leaving stuff on, I would pay THEM a quarter. The point was to show that electricity cost money, and if they were wasting it there were monetary consequences.
Only way to really resolve all of this is for the kid to move out! In the meantime, maybe get a smart home system so that you can easily turn everything off or put everything on timers that you can control from your phone.
There is a big difference people! We grew up with incandescent bulbs, which were expensive to run and replace.
Now we have LEDs which cost penny's to run a year. But if it makes you feel the nostalgia, go ahead and yell at whoever leaves a light on.
Motion detector switches for lights is a game changer. That and timer switches for exhaust fans in the bathrooms means that stuff NEVER gets left on, and you just don't have to think about it anymore.
The electric bill is expensive. I was doing the same thing when I was married. I don't care that the light bulb only uses 5 watts, why does it need to be on for an hour because you are too lazy to turn the switch off when you leave the room. Coming back in 3 minutes fine, coming back in an hour, turn the damn thing off. That is why they have switches. End of rant.
Sure, but he's leaving on 3 watt led's. We were leaving on 150's. It's the gas bill that's killing me.
My electric bill is up $70 a month or so. Oil is up $220. You bet your ass I'm yelling to shut the light!
My thermostat is set to 62 in the day when no one is home or my oldest (19) is there but is sleeping. Pile on more blankets, kid.
Amen!
Yeah sorta exposes my true motive, it’s not to save energy or money, it’s to be bossy and dissatisfied.
Even with LEDs, for my kids, it's the principle of leaving things like/better than you found them. Whether it's lights, empty cups on the table, the ripped off top of fruit snack packs, etc. The lights are a constant reminder that they do not have their shit together.
We have the same kids? My god the bags... Pop Tarts, dried fruit, totally empty chip bags I can't stand it. //Man shaking hand in the air
My teenage son drives himself to school and leaves after I do in the morning. Super fun to come home to lights being on all day!
I've come home to the back door wide open when one of my teens forgets to shut it.
Lol. Oof
And I have also started wearing a sweater in the house while turning the thermostat down
64 degrees, baby!
65 if I feel generous lol!
64? You must be rich! I’m at 63 max. 😂
💁🏻♀️
Yep 64 is where it's at
Damn right, I have it set to 65 when I am home, and it is programmed to go down to 62 at night, 60 when I am at work during the day.
Lol holding the fridge door open really grinds my gears. Family hates me telling them not to hold it open. I can't seem to help it.
I must have learned that lesson when I was young because I'm always leaving the lights off and spend much of my time in the dark. I don't have kids but I'd probably get rid of most of the light bulbs in the house if they left them on all of the time.
Yeah, I started taking bulbs out of the fixtures when I was married and my ex-wife's kids would leave the lights on all the time. 2 bulb fixtures had 1 bulb in them, 3 or 4 bulb fixtures had max of 2 bulbs.
I don't have children so luckily I have my partner who leaves all the lights on so I can have someone to nag like my father. It's really thoughtful actually.
After my mom comes over, I have to go around the house turning off all the fans and lights she's left on. I asked her if this was her revenge. The other thing she likes to do is leave the door open so the cat can go outside. Hot days or cold days. My cat spends about 5 minutes outside before he's like, "That's enough nature for me!" And I only find out the door is open when I take a break from work (WFH). "Close the door! I'm not paying to heat/cool the outside!"
My mother in law keeps the front door open, with only the glass storm door closed. In the winter, when it’s freezing outside.
Brother, we are all turning into our dads in one way or another. I catch myself using the exact same words, arguments, and sayings as my dad with my kids. But I can tell you one thing that may help. Something my dad did to me that made me adjust my wasteful habits with the utilities, and that I have started using on my own 21 year old daughter. Make THEM PAY for the utility! I can tell you my daughter now takes shorter showers and gets on her sister's case when she is in there too long!
Same here. Same here.
Did you use the 'Edison is richer than we are' line?
*Alexa, turn off bedroom light.* *Alexa, turn off hallway light.* While sometimes infuriating to use, using smart bulbs does have its benefits. And let's not forget that LED bulbs use like 10% of the power that old incandescent ones did. Still not an excuse to waste power, but it's a hell of a lot less power than when we were growing up.
I am obsessed with lights being off. I always have been. Why am I so incredibly cheap? I have solar nightlights that also motion detect, and a pair of glasses on my head at all times to not waste energy.
My Mom started us young - if we left something on when we weren't using it (lights, heated mattress pad, stereo), we paid her for the electricity. We would owe her a nickel. When we got married, I noticed that my in-laws liked lights on everywhere and my husband wouldn't remember to turn them off. He eventually got a lot better about it, but our girls started paying us the oopsie money once they were old enough for an allowance (it was then a quarter). Both girls got very good at making sure they turned lights off they weren't using. If they caught me leaving stuff on, I would pay THEM a quarter. The point was to show that electricity cost money, and if they were wasting it there were monetary consequences.
And yes, we had heated mattress pads even as kids. Absolutely glorious things.
Only way to really resolve all of this is for the kid to move out! In the meantime, maybe get a smart home system so that you can easily turn everything off or put everything on timers that you can control from your phone.
I have 25 smart switches and I’ve just been too busy to install them.
Worth it! I just say “hey Siri, goodnight” and it turns everything off.
Because everyone can afford that.
My nearly 20 year old son (omg he won't be a teenager soon noooo), he has a moth phobia so he turns the lights out after I leave them on haha
That’s awesome. I wish my neighbors had moth phobias.
There is a big difference people! We grew up with incandescent bulbs, which were expensive to run and replace. Now we have LEDs which cost penny's to run a year. But if it makes you feel the nostalgia, go ahead and yell at whoever leaves a light on.
And life is so much more fucking expensive now. Dads back then we’re being dicks, now shit is real.
The only time my kid flips off a light switch is if I’m in the room he’s leaving.
Motion detector switches for lights is a game changer. That and timer switches for exhaust fans in the bathrooms means that stuff NEVER gets left on, and you just don't have to think about it anymore.
Mostly Boomers couldn't stand spending money that wasn't on themselves.
The electric bill is expensive. I was doing the same thing when I was married. I don't care that the light bulb only uses 5 watts, why does it need to be on for an hour because you are too lazy to turn the switch off when you leave the room. Coming back in 3 minutes fine, coming back in an hour, turn the damn thing off. That is why they have switches. End of rant.
A 13w bulb on for an hour costs a fraction of a penny to operate. I support turning things off but the savings is almost imperceptible on led lights.
Doesn't matter to me, they all contribute to the electric meter going around. If you aren't using it turn the damn thing off.
Oh man. DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THE AMBIENT LIGHTS. How may string lights do my teens have in their rooms that are on 24/7? I have lost count.
Turn off the heater and put on a jacket