Reply #3: My cousin was so cheap [View All]

she wouldn't turn the hot water on when we opened up her beach house on weekends so showers were cool. Since we always went in summer this wasn't a big problem (no air conditioning of course). But she also turned her refridgerator off and of course it broke after that so she had to sell the place "as is". I think she would have gotten enough more for the house to cover the cost of leaving the fridge on.

If the pipes freeze in this home your folks are going to be spending a lot more money than it takes to heat the house every month. Not to mention medical bills from making someone sick from this. Try emphasizing the practical consequences of their actions. And I definitely wouldn't go back until about May. And I agree with the post above, the father in law sounds like a really controlling person.

No use being "penny wise and pound foolish".