What does everyone due for money in winter?

[WeedWhacker69]

I know its the first of July but I was just wondering what everyone does in the winter months? I plan on snow plowing but it does'nt snow everyday so was just kinda wondering?

[TJLC]

Monthly and yearly contracts save me during the slower times.

[Fantasy Lawns]

may get a little "warm" in the summer .....
we mow grass n do landscaping year round ;->

[kturner]

Yeah, we mow every month but January here and weed about the same so people sign up for contracts more readily.
When there's snow on the ground though? The only things I could suggest would be cleaning gutters, and read up on pruning trees, hedges, and large bushes.
Sometimes you can sell people on the idea that snow crushes or damages certain shapes of plant and a visit after each heavy snow to remove the snow would be advisable. Our vegetation here isn't used to heavy snow and we saw alot of damage last year. Don't know how that would work for ya though.
Good luck!

[Fine Lines Lawn]

Leaf clean-up, snow plowing when available, and yearly pre-pays.

[dhicks]

I sit on my can and collect a nice retirement from the government: I will be staying in Canada for a month or two and then return to Best Buy until early spring to keep up my people/sale skills.

It is a wonderful life!

[Eric ELM]

I plow snow, do carpentry, plumbing, electrical jobs and in my spare time Moderate Lawnsite.com :)

[Jusmowin]

I sell firewood and am carefull to save enough for the winter through out the rest of the year.

[Got Grass?]

When the grass isnt growing:
Plowing, Remember I'm from Buffalo. Last winter killed most people with contracts and per plows made out real nice. First plowable snow of the season, 20 Some inches in 24hrs durring the day. Then enough to plow for about a month non stop.

Could always put up X-mas lights for the elder people.
Clean gutters (when not frozen)
Leaf Cleanups
Catch up on that paperwork you have been putting off all year.
Remove trees that fall (after storms).
If you have a empty enclosed trailer haul things. Possibly for a small store's x-mas supplys.
Take that much needed vacation down south (and hope you not needed up here to plow).
Fix all the little things that need to be fixed and clean the shop/garage.
Get another job possibly x-mas help.

[NateinAtl]

I go Marlin fishing in Cabo San Lucas Mexico. The only problem is I haven't figured out how to get paid for this!!!

I do leaf cleanups in November and December. Spring cleanups and aeration/seedings in February. But the key is if mowing is your thing, get contracts so you are actually bringing home more money in the winter.--less labor and fuel costs.

[Grasshog]

Take a long vacation. Year round contracts keep the money coming
in. Here in NC i still have ta sjow up on the 3rd week of the month, put stripe in the yard blow the drive

thats show up every three weeks

[Evan528]

Lots of lawnsite!!!!!! snow removal....... clean up fallen limbs..... alot of relaxing and planning for the spring!

[gorrell]

Spend lots of time on Lawnsite.com and spend my earnings from Apr. thru Nov. Learn how to budget your money like most farmers have been taught to do. They also go months between "paychecks".........Lynn

[GreenQuest Lawn]

Anything that pays.

I live in a Lake effect snow area so the winters are pretty good.

I also do general maintenance at some group homes.

I refinish furniture.

Build cat and dog houses.

But as others said mostly I sit and spend endless hours on LS

[Lawn DOG]

It does not snow enough here to depend on it. Our commercial contracts keep the money coming. If it does happen to snow I make a killing. People in VA panic with 1" on the ground. Other than that I like to do alot of hunting and fishing. I'm going on a carribean cruise too.:) life is good.

[1MajorTom]

We pay our winter month bills in November. Everything is paid ahead till April.

Last year we just sat around. By January we were totally bored.

This winter will be different. We plan on getting more into some of our hobbies. Taking a few trips.

As for any work, NO WAY!

[Chuck Sinclair]

We mow year round and do a lot of cleanups.:D

[Runner]

If you're anywhere within the snowbelt, you have to do what construction, concrete, and all other seasonal workers do. You have to BUDJET and create what is called a SLUSH fund. Now wait, this really isn't such a dirty word. Just put aside a cerain percentage, and figure your bills into that. Unfortunately, this ALSO means health insurance. THIS is the biggy. While others are doing drywall, construction, or anything else, they are also considering health insurance. Because, let's face it, if you don't have your health, you don't have anything. BE PREPARED! I see you are in Indiana, so there is PLENTY of snow there. Look into some (commercial) contracts if you have access, and you can keep a good cash flow going. Not experienced with snow or ice removal? HAH! You've come to the right place! These guys are DOCTORS of snow and ice removal! There are individuals on here that will help you with everything from bidding a job, to what rate to spread salt, to how much "Magic" to mix per ton of salt for X amount of temperature versus X amount of humidity. Sound like a science? Oh, it is!!! And THESE guys are the ones that make it happen. You gotta realize that you are dealing with people who have years and years of experience in this field. They KNOW what they are doing. Eric, himself, is awesome, but there is also a gentleman named Plowking35, who also moderates the plow discussion. This man can help you out with virtually anything and everything you would ever need to know about the industry. I have not had, what I consider the priviledge, of meeting the man, but I would sure like to someday. But then of course, like I'm the one to talk... I work a full time job to cover my medical benefits. I just wish I had a better business mind...

[awm]

i do maintenance repair similar to eric,by the way eric be careful of the electrical work. if the have a fire for any reason theyll blame your work if you arnt licensed.even if its not near the work you did. at least thats why i steer away from electrical work.
think im gonna get a pt time this winter.later

[lawnworker]

I do carpentry some winters and sometimes work a temporary job in the winter last winter i worked in the power companys office on energy assistance programs. office work sure is differant then lawn care

[allabout]

Snowplowing & lots of salting.

[HOMER]

Year round contracts. I think I'm gonna help a guy this winter assemble and weld utility trailers, says there is a good chance to make $200.00 a day if I was fast.........which I is. All material is cut and jigs are set up, throw it in and weld it out! I got bored to tears last year.....too darn cold to get outside!:blob3: I'm also going to check into the master gardner program in our area. I'm definately going to stay busy..............no depression this year!

[Grapevine]

We bust our asses 6 days a week from March through the middle of December. If it snows we have 50 accounts we deal with. Around here you really can't rely on snowplowing, but it's nice if it comes. Other than that we budget accordingly and chill for the winter.

[lawrence stone]

If I had to work all year round I would get a REAL job!!

I plan to take a motorcoach tour of S Fla for the month of
January. Camp Wal-mart here I come!!!

[geogunn]

lawrence--don't forget...you'll be in vogue with all of our friends from the great white north. yes that is snowbird season in s fla.

will you be doing the keys?

GEO

[65hoss]

Leaves. Around here I can do leaves thru the entire winter. I did make a policy last year. If the temps drop below 40, I stay in the house. But normally that is only a few weeks in Jan.

[eggy]

I do a lot of snow skiing, and the past some time help out at the local car wash. Its not the best working conditions, but we do have a blast there and it makes the winter months go by quick. A few years I did nothing for four months and became so bored..ughh....budget your money and you will be fine.

[jeffyr]

I know a guy that delivers oil in the winter. The pluses are the pay ($18 per hour) and its a union job, so he pays into it all year and gets reduced rate medical insurance for his family.

[Leonard]

Year round growing = year round mowing

Can't complain though, it keeps the cash flow steady & strong. In the slower months (Jan, Feb) we take time off to get some serious skiing in. This year we have a condo in Winter Park for a week. WooHoo! :D

[LAWNGODFATHER]

we do leaf removals, retaining walls and landscaping untill or if it snows the only time we don't work is if we can't do anything when the snow is an the ground but when it snows (i love snow) we make a killing on snow removal
it just so happens that my slow time is when the grass slows or stops growing from heat and no water sometime Irr. systems don't help
and the other slow time is the transition to leaf pick ups

I have found things to do but can win them all