Who gets what room?

Hey Stephanie, you don't say how old your children are, but you need to lay down the law. No objections or complaints to be considered. They will get over it, but may have squabbles initially, but should accept your decision. Be strong, and good luck.

Good morning, Stephanie. My first question is how old are the children?? 4 boys and 1 girl? Is there any way you can make the largest room the sleeping quarters? We have a very large house too and it's amazing how much $$ can be saved just at night! A few extra blankets and lower the thermostat a few degrees at night... it's a huge help. Also, run electric heaters periodically during the day. Make them wear sweaters during the day. Explain to them the issues. Tell them, "this is how it's going to be." PERIOD! I'm guessing they are not babies, as they are insisting on their own rooms...but are they old enough to understand reasoning behind what you need to do?? We have a system; the heat is kept at 60 degrees in ANY room that we are not using. The rest of the house is kept at about 67 degrees. We blast the heat twice a day; first thing in the AM and right before bed. This gets the COLD out of the house. Then we adjust throughout the day, with sweaters, space heaters, warm socks, etc. BY no means are we freezing - or even cold. And in no way do we hesitate to turn it up when we're hosting family or friends, or when it's especially cold out, or even when we just get chilly ourselves... But it's crazy to heat a 4500 sq.ft. house when we are only using about half of it at any given time! So these are my first suggestions...for the heating issue... but if as you said, you are trying to teach them something (besides saving yourself some money) then I would support putting them all in one room and everyday continually stressing them to turn off lights, tvs, games, fans, etc. Clean up your things. Respect others' space and property. And then in the spring, 'release them' and see if the winter taught them anything. KEEP them in the same room until you feel they have learned their lessons. You aren't being mean; you're being a parent... and a good one at that!

I think I would make them sleep downstairs and use a small electric heater if they want to play upstairs. At least you would only be heating it up for a couple of hours a day. They will have to understand, money just does not grow on trees.

I dont blame you at all for putting them in the same rooms. I would to. But I also know that they have a lovely way of making you nuts when its not what they want. I would follow along with your plan and just make them do what you say. Thats that. Just plain and simple.

I would think to make the boys share a room for sleeping purposes wouldn't be a problem at all. You said that it is a large room and I'd imagine you could set up two sets of bunk beds for them and they would each still have their own little space in the sleeping room. Then as far as when it is time for play I would let them use the other two rooms as their playrooms. You know, keep the toys in a room that isn't where they sleep. As far as the heating issues go, for the playrooms I would keep a small heater in there to be used when they are playing, but close off the vents to the rooms that aren't used on a regular basis. I'd also make sure that they cleaned up their playrooms regularly. Perhaps from this it will both save you money and also help teach your children responsibility.