Definitely agree with running errands -- get done what you need to get done well ahead of time, including gassing up the car.

Shovel in increments rather than waiting until the snow has passed. Even light, fluffy snow can be heavy with only a few inches, and even 2-3" of heavy wet snow can be beastly to shovel, depending on just how heavy it is. Better yet, invest in a good snowblower if you can afford it.

Keep an area cleared of snow for the dog. Much as some of them like snow, they'll sink in it and have a harder time relieving themselves if the snow is too high (especially lady dogs...squatting and all...).

DH keeps container filled with sand in our car doors over the winter. That way when using walkways or parking lots that are icy I can sprinkle sand down as I go. A little bit of sand makes a huge difference when needing traction.

" container filled with sand in our car doors over the winter "

That's a great idea (but I use clay cat litter) - I have a bunch in the trunk of my car, but having some in the front that I can use before I get out of the car sounds like a good addition.

Good ideas. We got a couple of inches of plain sleet tonight.

Stay safe and lots of hugs ❣️

I love my "magic snow machine" as I call it. It's an 18" electric snow blower. Very light weight and needs no maintenance. It really throws the snow and is great for doing walkways, decks, sidewalks. DH uses the big gas-engine snow blower to do the driveway...and there I was doing all the heavy lifting with a shovel on the sidewalks and such. Something was wrong with this picture. So that's when I got the little one for me. Much better!! Only thing is, make sure the power cord is behind you so you don't run it over!

When I met DH he had one of those. He worked for TORO. I LOVED the electric starter...it was perfect for the small jobs, side walk up to the house, apron around the garage... He gifted it to his father as Frank aged. With the driveway we have now nothing smaller than a ride on snow blower will do the trick. I use old creamer containers--the top snaps shut easy to hold and sprinkle for the sand but use what you have!! Many people carry kitty litter in the trunks here for traction.

There are big, driveway-ready electric snow blowers too - I have a battery powered Ego Power+ self-propelled snow blower, and I'm so glad I chose to get it. My driveway is about 150' long and I can clear my driveway easily in about 15-20 minutes, with have battery power to spare.

I keep a pair of snow cleats in my car for emergency. I also keep slip on shoes with cleats on them at my doors so when I take the dog out, I can slip them on quickly and not fall in ice! We have had lots of ice this winter. Today is terrible, everything is covered in ice in eastern Ohio.

^^ What cleats do you have? I used to have the YakTrax but they're not really slip-on, they take a minute or two to put on.

YakTrax are also kind of awkward to put on - I don't know that I could do them sitting in the driver's seat of my car.

the cleats are live savers!! i have an extra pair of shoes with yaktrax on them, i keep them right next to the back door and change into them any time i'm going anywhere in the winter when there's ice or even just snow on the ground. i like the yaktrax because you don't have to remove them when you go into places since they don't leave scratches on floors like some of the other ones can.

I got some cleats off Azon last year and I really like that they are quick to put on and take off. They are a really stretchy rubber that will fit even large clunky winter boots and will also fit tennis shoes or Crocs if needed. I like them. I will try to find them and send a link. I think they were only like $6. The reviews talked about people wearing them to jog in or run in, they also suggested that because they are so stretchy, they got a small size. I think I got larges and they really are able to stretch to fit big boots. I like that, makes them easy to put on!

LINK:

ice cleats

Those are kinda like the YakTrax that you have to fit around your shoe. I should look into actual shoes w/cleats already on them and see if I could find something that works.

We stayed home for three days during the last snow storm.

Here, Ego cordless snow blowers are a thing....but not in heavy or deep snow. We're still in shape & can use a 48" snow pusher for up to 3" of snow. Our cement driveway is 165' long, so it still takes 30-45 minutes to clear it.

Oh i love my extra wide shovel. Love may be too strong of a word... 😂

My tip is get up early if yoi want to beat your 95 y.o. mother to shoveling. She doesn’t drive, but shoveled a path to the NY Times.

I widened the path, extended it to the mailbox, and salted it. I’m barely able to walk these dsys so that’s all I could manage but it's enough for her needs. Not deep but wet and heavy.

💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖 @arkansas girl

Love mine too! And....Hot Finger Gloves! (wish we'd gotton the heated handles for the 28" Toro gas snow blower) And...I wish we had a Ariens snow blower. The Toro crank shaft had to be replaced after 2 years. No more Toro's!

Like AnnieD, I have an electric snowblower to replace shoveling.

Mine was an 18" Snow

Joe that died after 7 years, and I just replaced it with a 20" battery-operated Litheli. Wonderful!

I still use an Ariens for deeper snow, but it's tiring (I'm 75).

The small electric blowers really save your back!

Stock up on beer and chips and then stay home! Give the road crews a couple days to clear the roads and then go get more beer.

Don't bother shoveling the driveway...it will melt eventually.

I carry a small can of deicer for the car door locks in my purse. I also have a bag of kitty litter in my .

She doesn’t drive, but shoveled a path to the NY Times.

Now there's a woman who has her priorities straight!

Years ago when I was helping my folks, they had an ”ice rink” driveway. I bought some rubber ice cleats called” Stabilicers” that stet hed over my light boots. Perfect. Ace Hardware or LL Beans or other. These are the spike type. Earlier I had tried a type with a steel roller like design and found them dangerous (for me) if I walked onto a floor.

The spike type are easy to slip off when you enter a floor area.

DH got a late start and did not begin using the snow blower (25” path 2-stage Honda) until after 2PM when the snow had become dense. He doesn’t listen to wise wife. At 7 AM, the snowing had stopped and the newly fallen snow was light and fluffy.It took him much longer to clear the driveway.

That snow blower is excellent, but a tad too heavy for me. I have a little Toro 2-cycle gas single stage, but a tad too light duty for our rough gravel driveway. It would be good on a pave walkway or deck.

I would let him leave to snow until April, but I need to be able to get out and two more storms are coming.

Thanks for sharing your good tips and ideas.

My Toro snowblower is the 2nd biggest one they make. I just walk behind it. It's not hard to handle or tiring .....I don't get any exercise using it. My driveway is flat, that helps. The 48" push shovel I can work up a sweat using it! It's supposed to snow Monday - Tuesday.🌝

We have a long driveway, so we have snowblowers and backups, two 26” and two 18”, they are all gas ones.