Screw Saving Money…I Want a Snowblower!
I’ve had to shovel snow at least once a day for the past 6 days.
I’m sick of it!
I live on a corner lot so that means I have two long sections of sidewalk to shovel within 24 hours after it snows. I also have a longish driveway which adds to the misery. Throw in our walkways to and from the house and it takes me about an hour to get done. Longer when I have to bust up drifts after a blizzard.
Did I mention this is all done in below zero temps!?!?
Every time after I get done and I’m trying to thaw out with some hot chocolate I tell myself that when my feet and hands regain feeling that I’m going to go to the store and pick up a snowblower. I of course never do. There are a few reasons for this:
- I’m a cheapskate.
- I don’t have the money.
- It means I’m old and can’t handle shoveling.
#1 & #2 go together. If I don’t have the money for a snowblower, I really shouldn’t be thinking of getting one.
But reason #3 is a tough one to swallow.
Sad to say but I think I am getting too old to handle shoveling. For the past few mornings I’ve been waking up with a mighty stiff back and a sore knee. It feels like I just got done with a tennis tournament. I’m thinking if I’m gonna blow my budget on a snowblower, I might as well get some new comfy boots so I can walk behind it in comfort.
But that’s a dream. There’s no snowblower coming my way anytime soon.
My parents never had a snowblower until I moved out. That’s because I was the snowblower. My kids don’t know it yet, but they too will serve the function of snowblower until they move out. My daughter just turned four. I figure she will start being a useful helper in about 6-8 years.
Can I handle 6-8 more years? I hope so.
With my snowblower dreams dashed for now, imagine the choice words I used this morning when the city plows came by and blocked my driveway with a 3 foot wall of snow right before I had to take the kids to daycare.
Good news though…after a few more days of below zero temps, the weather report is looking good (if you call 20 degrees good). And the main thing is that there is no snow in the forecast.
Hallelujah!
Until next time,
-DD
Follow The Shopping Calendar For Big Savings
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Great job DD resisting the urge.
The only other option is sharing with neighbors or purchasing together. It is a great community option. Volunteer to do someone’s who has one if you can do yours.
Also remember that with proper form, shoveling is good exercise.
I wish we got that much snow, we get a coating and I smile in south NJ.
I resent your suggestion that snowblowers are just for the elderly and infirm :).
If you live somewhere that gets a significant amount of snow, a snowblower is as essential a tool as a shovel or a lawnmower. Could I survive without mine? Sure, but life would be pretty miserable!
You gotta love those Minnesota winters! -22 this morning, brrr…
We have to pay association dues every month to the tune of $145/month – which I hate most of the year. Months like this has been in MN though, I don’t mind paying it to have them come out and shovel my walk, and plow my driveway.
I feel your pain!
@ Happy Rock – I always get a kick out of people who wished they got more snow. Let me warn you, be careful what you wish for.
Plus you’re not helping me with my urge with the ads for the snowblowers 🙂
@ MoneyGrubbingLawyer – No no you’re right, a snowblower is a great tool come winter. They are very common here too. They are all owned by wimps, but they’re quite common 🙂
@Pete – Yesterday morning it was -42 here (NE South Dakota) Needless to say it was a record low for that day.
Wow $145! A few months of that and I could afford the Snow Joe Ultra.
Yes, i know it’s extremely expensive – I wouldn’t mind shoveling my own snow, or cutting my own grass. But I have no choice. 🙁 Of course i knew that going in so I can’t complain too much.
I pay $162(down from $190 last year) for association fees and could definitely maintain my home for less. I would outsource grass cutting, but don’t mind clearing snow!
Back in 2001, I moved into my new house, I was so happy because instead of having a corner lot like you, I was moving to a house that had NO sidewalks…woo-hoo! Then the first snow came and it hit me: Instead of sidewalks to shovel, I have a very long driveway that needed shoveling. To make things worse, the driveway constantly got plowed in by our local plow drivers.
Fortunately, we haven’t had too many major snowstorms in PA lately. The only major one this year, my 10 year old nephew just happened to be visiting and volunteered to help shovel. My son is only 2, so I can’t put him to work just yet. Like you, I’m feeling a little too old for this, so I’ll looking for solutions.
And for Pete and DebtDestroyer: Forget the snowblower, I’d be looking to move to Florida or Arizona with those temperatures! I was cursing at our near zero temps the last 2 nights (yeah I’m a wuss).
Just do it… I just got ours this year for the first time. We are getting tonnes of snow (in Canada) lately and I finally bit the bullet and bought a great one. I got my drive, sidewalk and four neighbours’ sidewalk done in about 20 mins. It would have taken me hours to do it by hand with the shovel.
“Great exercise” from one commenter – sure, but I’d rather be doing exercise I like vs. shoveling for hours.
Buy one!!!
Living in Minnesota, I don’t mind shoveling the snow. It gives me an excuse to be active. But I live in a townhouse now and the association takes care of the snow for me now.
=)
Thanks for the comments!
@ DebtFreeDave – Florida sounds nice. But isn’t it full of old people?
@Adam – You’re not helping 🙂
@Cell Phone Registry – I’m starting to get jealous of these associations I hear so much about. But it would be weird to have others take care of my property for me.
Not saying I couldn’t get used to it though 🙂