Actually, it's not likely that more people are wearing flip flops out in the snow but rather that more people are wearing sandals inside than ever before. It may be possible that while heating costs have gone up that families are not keeping their homes as warm as in the past. This helps offset the increasing costs of utilities during the cooler months. As a negative result, home floors are quite cold and who likes walking around their own house with cold feet? Why would you walk barefoot if you could slip on a pair of comfortable sandals while still saving money on the heating bill?

Sandals keep your feet from transferring the freezing floor's cold through your feet to the rest of your body while they make walking around the house much more comfortable. Those same sandals will also be a quick easy way to step outside in the spring when the weather is warm and inviting.

See, wearing flip flops in the middle of winter isn't that ridiculous after all.