Old Man Winter Has Struck Boise Idaho

Man oh Man, has winter ever struck Boise!

 Snow! It's the word for Boise lately. My goodness we have had so much! I've even canceled several customer cleaning days because I refused to drive around on those snow slick roads.

 Even though I dislike driving in it, it sure is beautiful.

 

I have taken the time to really enjoy the beauty of the snow.

 Waking up to a world in white - awesome! It sure is beautiful.

I've had some pretty ice cycles hanging from my porch. One was so long - over 3 feet!

 January 17th we had a weather phenomenon known as a hoar frost. Oh my goodness it was lovely. Everything was covered with a thick frost. BEAUTIFUL!

 

The picture above and below are from the City of Meridian facebook page. It was only 8 degrees out when these photos were taken. I guess the little red robin didn't get the memo.

 As I was heading out to work I thought - I should stop and grab my camera and take a few pictures. But, I didn't take the time to do it. Luckily there were these beautiful photos from the City of Meridian.

 I've also noticed quite often individual snowflakes. I haven't noticed that in years. It's really an amazing sight!

I loved this little poem and thought I would add it.

 There was one aspect of winter I did not like and had never experienced before -- an Ice Storm on January 28th!!

 

Ice covered everything. Our cars were engulfed in a thick sheet of ice. These 2 pictures were taken by Becky Parkinson. I never think to grab my camera very often.

I've heard of Ice Storms in Texas - but never experienced one in Idaho. I don't like it at all! Luckily Mary Kay and Becky let me have the day off work. Great customers - so at least I didn't drive during the ice storm.

 

The really bad thing was when Boise and Meridian School districts decided to hold school. Later that morning they regretted it - very much. They weren't too wise! Here is the story from KTVB:

 

The icy roads caused more than 30 school closures in the Treasure Valley Thursday. Notably, Boise and Meridian schools did not close.

 

Boise School District's spokesman, Dan Hollar, says they are now thinking that in hindsight they made the wrong decision:

"We made the decision early this morning approximately 5 a.m., and at that time the weather conditions were certainly not what they were an hour and half, two hours later. We made the best decision at that time given the information that we had. We don't make the decision in isolation we are actually out driving the roads, we consider the weather reports throughout the evening. The weather report showed it was going to turn to snow. Well it didn't occur and obviously we made a decision that we thought was best at that time and in hindsight it probably was not the best decision. But once we get the buses rolling it's hard to stop that system so now we are in the process of canceling programs making the best decision from the stand point of making sure we continue to operate safely and securely for those students. We've tried to communicate to the parents, we understand they're upset and we appreciate and understand that and now we are in the process of trying to best decide how to operate the rest of the day."

 

 

Vote for Jason's Art Work

My son Jason has submitted 2 paintings for an art contest here in Boise Idaho. The prize is $250 and I'd sure love it if he won.

 

The voting is over and now we will wait for the results.

I hope he wins! 

While I don't particularly love tattoo's,  I do love his artwork. I love his painting style, the way he shades and the colors he uses. He draws and paints all the time, it is something he loves and enjoys. He has lots of artistic talent.

Winning would be awesome!

Voting is over.

Click here for more of Jason's artwork.

2013 Financial Goals and Tools



This is a very good program to listen to on Financial Provident Living from the Mormon Channel here - I recommend listening to it. Great Advice.

2013 Financial Goals. 

 I made up a binder last night and am going to log every expenditure I pay out this year. I'd truly love to be debt free this year - everything except my house (which I hope to be able to focus on paying down when all the other debt from my life is gone).

I decided instead of paying for a notebook or journal, I'd make up my own spreadsheets and put them in a binder I already have on hand.

Here are the spreadsheets I made for each month:

Because I am self employed as a household cleaning service, I have an income ledger that tracks the money I earn each day through the month. My schedule is set each week, so I sat down and put down what I will earn each day on the ledger for the month and totaled it to know what I will be earning. Then I can budget what I will be spending this month.

 These are my actual monthly bills - I haven't received my Power bill yet, but will add it when I do. I also am going to put my credit card total down each month (or stupid tax). I will be putting ALL excess money on the credit cards and watch each month how they decrease. My goal is to have them all paid off by June.

You can see that I don't have any car payments or smart phone bills. My cars are paid for (we purchase a new car with cash 1 1/2 years ago. My cell phone is a tracfone that I pay $100 per year and it is all I need in a cell phone. Since I am self employed, I have to pay 100% for my health insurance with a huge deductible of  $5000 to get the payment low. I figure I can work my way out of $5000 instead of what health care really costs if you do get sick (insurance). I pay for regular doctor bills as I go.

 Last is the House account ledger. I will put in everything I spend. Even when I go grocery shopping, I think I will itemize each item - making me truly think about what I spend my hard earned money on. I hope this helps me become more mindful of what I spend each month and help me keep track of really what I want - to be debt free.

My motto and sign posted in my binder and above my computer is:

Last year I gave up my land line for a Magic Jack.  

 

The total cost per year is $19.95 for a year of phone service. I hooked up a telephone with 2 other sets that are connected with the main unit. I have a phone in my kitchen, TV room and my bedroom - basically how I had with a land line. I love not getting a phone bill each month!

I also gave up my Direct TV. My Century link bill was $170 a month and now it is $35 for my Internet service.























This year for Christmas Jason and Sharon gave me an Apple TV!

Oh my goodness I am in love with this little box. It is ran by the wireless Internet and I can watch Netflix, Hulu and YouTube on my big screen TV. It has a remote which is awesome!! I love this and wish I would have dropped paying for TV a long time ago - just like Jason and Sharon had been telling me to do.

I love that I can watch what I want on my own time - just like a DVR. I love that I can watch older TV shows and all the series they had (TV shows that are G and PG rated - not the types of R rated shows in TV now days). I love that I can still watch Lifetime type movies and am VERY careful that I don't watch any R rated type shows.

It's been wonderful to save so much money by switching to Majic Jack and Apple TV - Woo Hoo!

This savings has gotten me to think about what other costs I can do without. The less I spend the more I have to meet my financial goals. I've been more frugal with water, and power - however I like a warm house so I use the gas bill normally - I won't freeze in my own home. I keep my house at a warm 72 degrees.

2013 is going to be the year that I am determined to make all my financial dreams come true!!