On Sunday we had a little over a foot of snow fall here. After a day off on Monday we had a little less than a foot of new snow on Tuesday. The area behind where we park one of cars (at the top of our very long and steep driveway) has over four feet of snow accumulated; this is a spot that does not get much sun.
We have had our place here since 1998 and my wife had been coming up here before that since 1982 when her parents bought a cabin up here which they still own. In all that time there has not been this much snow in the month of March. Two years ago we had snow over Memorial Day weekend so we get plenty of snow but not this much this late (this is not a global warming post).
After the snow falls I shovel it. We park one vehicle up top and leave one at the bottom of the driveway. So shoveling consists of shoveling off the deck, then the small pen, then the path to the driveway, then I walk up to the top of the driveway to shovel out the car up top, then I work my way down our driveway typically making a two shovel-wide path for each tire so that whatever is parked below can get drive out without slipping. By getting on this at the right time of day the temperature usually allows the shoveled spots to melt completely.
Now we are not supposed to get this much snow in March but regardless of when it snows the shoveling has to be done so that we can come and go safely and easily and so the smaller dogs can move around.
The point is to make a comparison to saving money. You have probably seen this article from CNNMoney which cites a study that says 43% have less than $10,000 saved. 43% of whom you may ask and according to the article they surveyed 1153 people as young as 25. The article did not say how many of the people were younger than 30 so while I'm not sure the 43% is useful we all know that people do not save enough money.
Clearly saving money is not easy and the generally deteriorated financial condition of the last couple of years makes saving money even more difficult but saving money must be done in order to have a chance of of having a financially secure future.
Like shoveling snow, saving is difficult but has to be done. I imagine that the typical person reading this blog knows this and does save some money every month but if you read the CNN link above it seems pretty clear that most people do not save in a meaningful way. Maybe this would motivate you to try to spread the word but if not you can at least take responsibility for your own proper saving and avoid the future hassle and worry that so many folks appear to be headed towards.
A quick comment on the snow shoveling; it is a fantastic workout. At some point in the future I'll need to put a blade on the front of an ATV or pickup truck but not yet.
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11 comments:
When I was in college I had a roommate who was dating a nurse that worked in an ICU. She commented that the ICU always filled after a snow storm from men shoveling snow having heart attacks.
Just saying do not put purchasing that blade and pickup truck purchase until after a first heart attack.
Saving is something of a cultural attitude, best acquired young so it enters reflex territory, and this is true in practical terms too because compounding makes the job so much easier over longer time spans. Begun later a savings program has to be very aggressive, usually involving sacrifice, but early and consistent it's like breathing.
Speaking of which, I've read several articles discussing the incidence of heart attacks while shoveling snow but only one of them mentioned what would be obvious to anyone who followed a weight-lifting regime (I acquired mine while playing football but it's more about tonus these days, I don't need the bulk): Snow shoveling is a workout so treat it like one; use your legs, don't overlift and don't hold your breath during the lift, release it to decrease pressure in the chest.
Have a good one.
OT: Like an itch they've got to scratch somebody is bound to make a wisecrack about global warming WRT your post but I promise not to scratch my itch in turn and start scattering links to the models that explain how warming oceans can lead to greater extremes in precipitation [lol]
"models that explain how warming oceans can lead to greater extremes in precipitation"
If we do not get snow it is due to global warming
If we do get snow it is due to global warming
They can make models say anything.
re the heart attacks from snow shoveling. I am cognizant of this issue. as i understand it what causes the heart attacks is breathing in air that is much colder than the body's temperature.
wearing a bandana can address this problem. I would also note that most of the time I am shoveling it is 40 degrees not 25 degrees. also i like to think i am fit enough for the task
1. The original intent of being a shareholder was to be a part owner of a company. This seems totally irrelevant today.
2. It seems a majority of CEO's and the Board of Directors guide a company for their own selfish reasons
3. Granting of huge stock awards is akin to printing money
Anon 7:48
You are very cynical.
Unfortunately, seem to be very accurate also.
There is little in the way of formal financial education for young people, it seems the message coming from the government is you shouldn't get knocked up or an STI but there's no problem getting into debt.
yes, education is woefully lacking.
Roger,
China's food inflation was up 6.2% in Feb. With 22% of the world's population and an emerging middle class, I like your theme of adding MOO to the portfolio.
"...what causes the heart attacks is breathing in air that is much colder ..."
Old wives tale. Good thing too or they'd be dropping like flies in Alaska.
8:58
Don't think the message regarding STI's or planned parenthood is getting out their either.
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