Originally Posted by: Kevin TaylorI guess I'm of the theory that I re-use everything as much as possible and then use it to heat my room instead of tossing things out.

For instance... I get a package from UPS. I take all the packing and instructional papers and cut them up to be used as food plates.
When I make a sandwich, I grab a side of the box and a used printer paper for cleanliness and use it as a plate. I re-use the same knife (don't wash it...just wipe it on a huge bath towel hung on the regrigerator), then eat the sandwich off the printer paper. Then I toss it in the fireplace for kindling.

Basically I get several uses from just one Purolator box and a second hand printer paper.

Over the winter months, I save up all my used papers like boxes and used typing paper and then when winter gets here, I go into my storage room and start using all the left over junk to fire up the fireplace.

Like, I said.... just a couple of small boxes and a few papers can keep the room warm all night and I still haven't turned on the electric heaters in the house yet even thought the temp outside is below 32º

I also throw old food scraps, left over candles, socks and anything else that can be burned.
You'd be amazed at how warm it gets in here.

After the week of hell I lived through here with the Fires in California, the sky black at Noon, raining Ashes and soot filled smoke travelling 500 miles out over the Pacific, I think you should be able to stay as warm and cozy as you see fit for the rest of your life. You could even throw an occasional UPS driver on the fire for some barbeque aroma.