Blog

Snowdog Versus Snowmachine: Which One is Best for You?

February 17, 2023 by Everyday Alaska

If you’re looking to add a new machine to your lineup of winter toys, or just looking for a the best way to get around during winter, chances are you’ll be looking into getting a snowmachine (or snowmobile as everyone in the Lower 48 refers to them). But have you ever looked into getting a Snowdog? Chances are, maybe you haven’t, or you’re deciding which one of the two to get. I’ve used both machines, and below I’ll give you my perspective and some facts on the Snowdog versus snowmachines to help you decide which would best fit your needs.

What is a Snowdog?

A Snowdog is basically the machine version of an actual sled dog team. It’s a compact tracked machine that pulls a connecting sled(s) behind it to hold people, supplies, gear, and/or whatever else you may need to carry. The Snowdog is basically acting as the sled dogs. The machine itself is giving you the muscle to go, and the sled behind it acts as a musher’s sled would. Unlike a snowmachine/snowmobile, it is much shorter, has no connected seat, and does not have skis. Snowmachines, commonly known as snowmobiles, are much larger, heavier, tracked vehicles with skis.

The Snowdog at sunset on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. — The Snowdog at sunset.

What can Snowdogs and snowmachines be used for? Can they only be used during winter?

Snowmachines are solely winter vehicles. They are used for transporting people and goods, riding for enjoyment and exploring, ice fishing, hauling wood, trail grooming, hunting, chores around property, and whatever else you choose to do outdoors during winter. Snowdogs, however, are multi season vehicles. They are used for the above activities during winter, but can also be used for these applications during other seasons. This makes Snowdogs quite useful, multi-season vehicles. You won’t be using the Snowdog for hillclimbs or highmarking though. Although they do great in fairly deep snow, they can’t compete with the big dog snowmobiles when it comes to tons of powder and racing up steep mountains.

How much can I tow and how far can I go with a Snowdog versus a snowmachine?

How much you can tow with a snowmachine will depend on what type of one you get. Are you buying a snowmobile for hill climbing or trail riding? Will you have a sled you’ll be towing behind it? What kind of horsepower do you have? All of these various elements and more will determine how much you can tow.

The same goes for how far you can travel on a tank. There are a couple different things to consider when figuring this out. How big is the tank? What’s your MPG like? Will you have room to take extra fuel with you? This will vary, and checking individual specifications for the machine you’re looking at is the best way to find out. Most snowmobiles can go quite the distance on a full tank.

Snowdogs have some pretty specific stats on towing compactly and MPGs. According to the Snowdog website “the top power models of 14 hp haul up to 660lbs on snow” and “average fuel consumption is only 0.7 gal/h (41 MPG)”, which gives you an idea of how long and hard you can push it. Obviously there is a big difference in horsepower between the two, so that’s something to consider.

Polaris Indy Voyager in Eureka, Alaska. Snowmachines can climb and travel distances better in the case of Snowdog versus snowmachine. — Eureka, Alaska. Snowmachines can take you to some beautiful heights.

How does a snowmachine handle when riding compared to the Snowdog?

A lot of this is based on personal opinion since experiences will just depend on the rider. I think both the Snowdog and snowmachines are really enjoyable to ride. They each have their perks and quirks, though. Personally, I think the Snowdog is harder to steer. I don’t feel like I have the control with it like I do when I’m snowmaching. That being said, I have ridden snowmachines for decades, so I’m much more comfortable with them in general. Also, my husband just made a seat for our Snowdog sled, and sitting while operating the Snowdog rather than standing gives a much better rider experience and more control. You can also go faster on a snowmachine compared to a Snowdog, but depending on what you’re using it for speed might not matter as much.

Depending on how heavy your snowmachine is, they can sometimes be a pain to get unstuck, and you might need a little help. Snowdogs by themselves weigh only 286-440lbs depending on the model, so a solo rider likely can easily get unstuck without help.

Riding a Yamaha Phazer in the 90s in remote Alaska. — You could say I’ve got a few decades of riding in. Changed the brand of machine, but not the color!

What’s the best way to transport each machine?

There are a few different options when moving either machine. Snowmachines can be trailered, put on a sled deck, or fit in a longer bed of a truck. Snowdogs are compact enough that they can fit in the back of a larger SUV or truck easily. Of course you can always trailer them as well, but their compact size makes them convenient to load up take to the trail. However, our model of Snowdog does not have reverse, which makes it a little more difficult to unload. This is something to consider when deciding which model of Snowdog to purchase.

Snowdog being loaded into the bed of a truck. — You can easily load up a Snowdog by just walking it into the bed of a truck.

What is the cost of a Snowdog versus a snowmachine?

Now we’re getting to the part that determines many purchases in life, money! The cost of either of these machines is dependent on many things; one being where you purchase them from. If you buy either of them brand new from a dealership, you’ll pay top dollar. If you purchase them used, chances are you’ll likely get a better deal, but they may need repairs or have other issues. Both my snowmachine and Snowdog were purchased used, which saved a good sum of money. But, unless you get a very old snowmachine or a killer deal, you’ll likely be paying a lot more if you buy a snowmachine than a Snowdog, even if it’s used.

Secondly, prices are dependent on the model. We’re a Polaris household, so I’ll use their pricing as an example. If you want to buy a new model snowmobile to trail ride not get too crazy with, you might be paying $15,000-$16,000 and up. If you want to hill climb and brrrrap brrrrrap your way around, expect to pay at least $18,000, but likely $20,000 for a brand new machine. Pricy, right!?

Snowdogs, on the other hand, start out at about $4,000 brand new and go upwards of $6,200 with all the bells and whistles. What model you choose will depend on your use of it, just like with snowmachines. But, you also have to consider you’ll need a sled(s) and a seat if you’d like one, and the accessories for Snowdogs aren’t cheap. Adding in a sled and seat increases the cost by upwards of $600. Overall, though, you will pay less for a brand new Snowdog than you will for a new snowmachine, and you won’t need to buy a trailer for it if you can fit it in the back of your vehicle.

After considering the cost of new versus used, and the cost of accessories, there is the cost of repairs. There’s really no way for me to give you a good estimate of this. A lot of this cost will depend on how handy you are at troubleshooting problems yourself, how reliable your machine is, and how much replacement parts are.

Another thing to account for in your budget is insurance and registration. This will vary depending on your area, but snowmachines may require registration and insurance, while Snowdogs likely will not.

Polaris Indy Voyager on the Kenai Peninsula. — The Polaris Indy Voyager on a blue bird day on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula.

So which one should I choose?

Honestly, one machine is not better than the other, it’s just about what’s best for how you want to use it. They’re fairly similar, but have enough differences that you can’t replace one with the other. Each has their pros, cons, and uses in the great outdoors. But, to try simplify things, below is a little list of who, what, when, where, and how they are best used to help you decide.

What do you plan on using your machine for? If you want to puts around the woods, do trail grooming, go ice fishing, and do some chores around the property, a Snowdog might be right for you. If you want to climb mountains and race your friends up hills, get a snowmachine.
Do you want to use it during multiple seasons? You’ll need a Snowdog if you want to make use of you machine during more than just winter.
Are you going on long rides, and how much are you bringing? If you can bring extra fuel and tow two sleds behind, a Snowdog will get you a ways in semi-deep snow. For longer distances, deeper snow, and a more comfortable ride, a snowmachine is the way to go.
How many people are riding? No matter which you choose, you’ll likely fit a maximum of two people on either the Snowdog or a snowmachine.
Which is a more comfortable ride? If your Snowdog has a seat you’ll have a much better ride than when standing. But, overall, a snowmachine will be more comfortable, especially for longer distances.
Is the Snowdog easier to transport than a snowmachine? Yes, Snowdogs are so easy to bring to trailheads and load into the back of your truck.
What’s your budget? If a lower price is a final deciding factor for you, the Snowdog will be more budget friendly.

Overall, if I had to choose, I would just pick both! But, the reason you’re reading this is to decide between two, so here is my final opinion. Honestly, it just depends on what you’d like to use it for, your capabilities, budget, snowload, and more. If you’re doing easy riding, don’t have extremely deep snow, want to use it all year, add a seat to the sled, want an easy way to load and unload, and are on a budget, choose the Snowdog. If you’re doing any hardcore riding, have deeper snow, don’t mind trailering a machine, have a place to store it half the year, are doing longer rides, and have a bigger budget, get a snowmachine.

I really hope this Snowdog versus snowmachine comparison has helped you determine which machine would best suit your needs. Any questions? Ask them in the comments below, I’d be happy to answer! Happy riding, friends!

7 Ways to Stress Less (And Spend Less!) When Wedding Planning

February 9, 2023 by Everyday Alaska

How do I have a stress free wedding? That’s probably one of the most asked questions regarding wedding planning. Truthfully, the answer is there really is no way to avoid 100% of wedding stress, but there are multiple ways to mitigate and minimize it to make your special day as stress free as possible.

What things can I do to stress less when wedding planning?

If you’re stressed about wedding planning, you’re not alone. According to Brides.com “40 percent of couples categorized wedding planning as “extremely stressful””, so avoid that pre-wedding stress and anxiety by checking out the tips below.

Accept Help

People will likely volunteer to do all kinds of things to help with your wedding. From arranging flowers and decorating, housing guests to making food, etc., your friends and family will probably offer to help with various tasks to make your special day as perfect as possible. If you’re not the type of person to accept or ask for help, I completely understand. But, in the case of a wedding, take all the free help you can get and share the load!

If people are offering to help you, that means they want to help you. Don’t feel like you’re imposing if you take them up on the offer, just make sure you trust those people to get the job done. We really lucked out having so many wonderful family members and friends that helped make our wedding special.

Kransekake with roses at our wedding. — Check out this beautiful kransekake my aunt and uncle made for our wedding!

Delegate

Delegate, but don’t get too bossy! Which is easier said than done. If you have some tasks that need to be done, keep a few close and dependable attendees in mind to help with any last minute plans or issues. You may have a wedding planner, coordinator, or day-of director to do this, but if not, ask a couple people if they wouldn’t mind helping with some last minute tasks or details. Almost every wedding I’ve been to I’ve had some sort of task to do to help with the wedding. More than likely, whomever you ask will likely be flattered you’d trust them to help with your big day, and not at all imposed upon. Just ask nicely, and don’t get too bride/groomzilla on anyone!

Plan Your Own Wedding

Plan your own wedding. What I mean is don’t let anyone make all the decisions for you, unless you want a hands off approach, which is also understandable. You will get many, many opinions about what you should or shouldn’t do at your wedding; some helpful, some not. Don’t let anyone pressure you into the dress, venue, photographer, hairstyle, or whatever you don’t want. Remember, it’s your wedding after all!

Keep It Simple

Keep it simple. Unless you don’t want it to be simple (refer to above tip). But by simple, I mean don’t over complicate everything and add additional stress to what is going to be one of the best days of your life. Honestly, there’s a 100% chance most of your guests won’t remember all of the little details you spent time worrying about, and there’s a 99% chance you won’t remember them either! (Check out the next tip to see how to avoid stressing the small stuff!) Don’t get too crazy trying to incorporate every Pinterest perfect centerpiece, flower arrangement, accessory, and wedding favor you’ve ever seen. Take it from me, it gets to be a little too much, and keeping it simple will help you avoid a ton of stress (and stay within your budget) when wedding planning.

Top Things

I read this tip somewhere when I was wedding planning. It basically suggested picking three main things to focus on during planning that you want to have a certain way. For me it was photography, food, and my dress. For you it may be flowers, music, venue or cake, makeup, and decor. This will help you get the main details that you’ll remember exactly how you want them, and then the more minor details can stay minor and not turn into a stressful to-do list. It’s a helpful way to not get overwhelmed and avoid literally sweating the small stuff.

Stay in Budget

Know your budget and stick to it. That may mean not getting the designer dress you want, but more than likely there is a similar one from a different brand that you’ll love almost as much. Maybe you wanted a five course meal to be served to your guests. Likely, that’ll take up most of your budget. Try having the same types of food, but served buffet style. There are always ways to change things up to save money.

DIY wedding centerpieces made by family before the wedding. — Having family help put together DIY centerpieces is a great way to stay in budget.

The Guest List

You don’t have to invite everyone. Or anyone. If you want to elope, elope. If you want to invite all your neighbors and everyone you’ve ever gone to school with, do it. (Buuuuuut, unless you have an unending budget, you’d probably be breaking the budget suggestion above.) If your mom wants you to invite all her friends from book club that you’ve never met, but you don’t want to, guess what? You don’t have to! You can politely explain that you have a limited guest list, but maybe suggest having a separate party with them to celebrate sometime if she’s insistent. It’s your wedding and you can invite who you want.

Bonus: Have a Backup Plan

As I mentioned above, food was one of my top three things I was most concerned about. Celebrations revolve around food, and I wanted it to be delicious and on time. We had plans made to have Olive Garden cater for us, but it all just seemed a little too good to be true with pricing and them bringing it a long distance to us. In the back of my mind, I decided we’d just have pizza if it didn’t work out. And, low and behold, they basically bailed on us, so we used the backup plan and had enough time to order Pizza Hut for our guests. Was I thrilled about the Olive Garden situation? Nope. Did I have a complete meltdown over it? Nope, because I had a solid, easy backup plan. I’d suggest that if you have any vendors, caterers, or details that you feel like might fall through, have a contingency plan for them. This way, if things don’t work out, you’re not up a creek and in a panic.

Eating Pizza Hut at our wedding. Stress less when wedding planning by having a backup. — Clearly I wasn’t too upset about having pizza as an alternate option!

Although there is no way to have a stress free wedding, the tips above will help you manage the stress and stress less when wedding planning as well. Remember, it’s totally normal to have some amount of stress while planning your wedding, but don’t let it take over. Even if everything does’t go 100% as planned, or there are some hiccups along the road, as long as you and your fiancé are husband and wife at the end of it, you’ve had the perfect wedding.

The 5 Best Winter Boots

January 27, 2023 by Everyday Alaska

Winter fun can end in a hurry if you get cold feet. Beat the cold and turn up the toasty on your toes with these five winter boot options. Below, I’ll list my favorite winter boots, the best activities for each type of boot, and the pros and cons of each option.

Bunny Boots

Lets start off with the winter boot of all winter boots: the bunny boot. These large, insulated, rubber boots were designed for the United States Military, and are the best winter boots I’ve ever had. Bunny boots are great for prolonged time outdoors in snow and/or frigid temperatures. They are a bit hard to find though, so look at garage sales, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, local sales pages, and military surplus stores to find them.

The white version of these boots keeps you warm to lower temperatures, and the black ones have a slightly less frigid rating, but I have the black ones and they work great. Although they are bulky and a bit heavy, the warmth they provide is unmatched, and the fact that they are waterproof is a lifesaver. I’ve had instances where snow has got in the top of my boot and melted (I should have been wearing gaiters or snowpants!), and with bunny boots my feet stayed perfectly warm although they were wet. If you find a pair of these in your size, be sure to snag them up!

Even our pup agrees that bunny boots are the best winter boots!

Tall Sorels

I was lucky enough to get a great pair of hand-me-down Sorels, and they have held up well for years now. I don’t believe they make the exact style of boot I have anymore, but they do make a pair that looks very similar and has one handy improvement. The lower part of these newer Sorel boots have rubber on them, which will help keep your feet warm and dry when walking through snow and slush. Also, this style of boot, along with my current pair, has a removable liner. Removable liners are fantastic to have on winter boots so you’re able to wash them or put them on the boot dryer if necessary.

These boots are great for milder winter weather, lower amounts of snow, and activities like sledding, walking, shoveling, etc. If you need a little extra warmth, they would pair well with toe or foot warmers. They make men’s, women’s, and kid’s versions of these boots, so you can outfit the whole family! Plus, they look great, too!

The tall Sorels are so cozy, mismatched socks and all.

Salomon

I have had a pair of Salomon boots for years now, but just started using them this season. They are cute, comfy, surprisingly lightweight, and warm. They work great for walks, snowshoeing, and more. I found these on sale at a large sporting good store, so I would suggest checking your local sporting goods shops for them before looking online.

Short Sorels

Living in Alaska, and being from Valdez, I’m used to quite a ton of snow. Literally. Tons. But, not every area or time of year requires hardcore snow boots during winter. That’s when the short Sorels come in handy! These are so easy to slip on and get out the door. They are great for keeping your feet warm and toasty on grocery store trips, while out walking the dog, running errands, and more. They are lightweight, come in a variety of colors, and are a stylish and fashionable winter boot. Grab yourself a pair of these today!

UGGS

Never did I think I’d say this, but UGGS are awesome. I was given a pair for my birthday two years ago, and have worn them constantly since then for everyday errands and more. They are incredibly warm, comfortable, and come in a variety of heights and styles. I have a sorter, classic pair, and get a lot of use out of them. The downside is they are not waterproof. I haven’t tried to use waterproofing on mine, so I can’t say how that would work out, but it may be possible to do that if necessary.

Is there anything else I need to keep my feet warm this winter?

Great question, and the answer is yes! Not only do you need the best winter boots to keep your feet warm and comfortable, they are also a few key accessories to help you enjoy winter.

Socks

Under every pair of great boots is a toasty pair of socks. If you are just doing errands in a lighter pair of socks and short Sorels, you should be fine. But, if you’re out in the elements all day, you’ll want to grab some pairs of winter socks. Some of the best brands are Darn Tough, Fox River, and Heat Holders.

Toe and Foot Warmers

Toe and foot warmers from HotHands help give you that extra bit of warmth if you tend to have colder feet.

HotHands are the perfect way to stay toasty.

Gaiters

My husband frequently wears gaiters over his boots when snowpants aren’t necessary. Even the tallest winter boots aren’t always tall enough to avoid snow getting into them. They give that extra protection so you don’t get any snow going over the tops, thus keeping your feet warm and dry.

Ice Cleats

Ice cleats, crampons, snow grips. Whatever you want to call them, they are sometimes very useful and necessary. Winter boots might not always have the traction you need to be on ice, so adding ice cleats to them can make walking in winter easier and, more importantly, safer. And, if you want a permanent traction solution, you can sometimes even get your boots studded!

Boot Dryer

I feel like my boots were always on the dryer when I was little. After coming in from playing all day, I’d have snow in my boots and wet feet. These Peet dryers would dry them out, and they next time you put them on they’re toasty warm! They even make ones from drying gloves, too!

Storage

If you’re like me, you’ll end up with a variety of winter boots for the different parts of the season, and for different activities. I store mine on this handy shoe rack. Just make sure before you store them that they are completely dry, removable liners have been washed, and you’ve added boot deodorizer if necessary.

Being a life-long Alaskan has taught me many things, one being that wearing the best winter boots possible is a must. Hopefully the list above helps you pick out the perfect boots for your next winter adventure, and if you need more information on what clothes and gear to wear this winter, check out post on how to layer clothes for winter weather!

The full lineup: bunny boots, tall Sorels, Salomon’s, short Sorels, and UGGS.

5 Ways to Prevent and Treat Dry, Cracked, and Chapped Hands

December 7, 2022 by Everyday Alaska

Are your hands chapped, cracked, or even bleeding from too much hand washing, dry and cold winter weather, or other factors? Check out these five solutions for cracked and chapped hands, and learn how to prevent these problems using the five ideas below.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Commissions from these qualifying purchases help support Everyday Alaska at no extra cost to you. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted. I am not a medical professional, these tips and ideas are my personal opinions from experience, unless otherwise cited or noted. Please consult a medical professional for medical advice regarding your skincare if necessary.

How can I prevent dry, cracked, and chapped hands?

Some causes of dry skin include over washing and harsh weather (which we see a lot of in Alaska!). While you may not be able to control how many times a day you have to wash your hands, and you definitely can’t control the weather, you can control how your skin is affected.

Change Your Hand Soap

If over washing is the culprit causing your chapped hands, try changing your soap. Over washing due to having a job in the medical field, dog grooming, custodial work, culinary, or doing household chores can cause sever dryness and even bleeding from chapped skin. I switched hand soaps for this reason, and it has helped tremendously. After I started using this Dove hand soap, I’ll never go back. I have run out of the Dove soap before and had to resort to using our old hand soap. This caused irritation after only a couple washes, so I always buy a few Dove soaps at a time to ensure I won’t run out again.

Wear Gloves

Wearing gloves during seasons of harsh weather can protect the delicate skin on your hands from the wind and cold. You should not only be wearing gloves while outdoors, though. Many indoor activities such as washing dishes, cleaning showers, and scrubbing floors should include gloves as well. Not only will they keep you from contacting cleaning solutions that may irritate your skin, but gloves will also prevent your hands from getting too wet during cleaning, which can dry them out.

An Alaska Native beaded glove with HotHands. Used to keep hands warm and protected so you can prevent dry and chapped skin. — Cozy gloves not only keep your hands warm but they protect them from the elements. Add **HotHands** warmers for a little extra warmth.

Hydrate

This idea has mixed reviews, but whether or not it is 100% proven to help your skin, hydration is 100% important to a healthy, well-functioning body. Staying hydrated can be an important factor to keeping your whole body hydrated. And considering skin is your body’s largest organ, it’s essential to keep it hydrated. Keeping a water bottle near you while watching TV, working out, running errands, and more will help you meet hydration goals.

How can I treat dry and cracked skin?

If your skin has been damaged from over washing, weather, or other factors, it may take time to repair it. The ideas below will help speed up this process and sooth and treat your dry hands rapidly.

Moisturize

One of best ways to prevent and treat dry hands is by moisturizing. This L’Occitane hand cream is one of my favorites, but there are many good ones out there at your local drug store as well. Keeping a moisturizer in your purse, by your sink, and next to your bed are great ways to remind yourself to moisturize throughout the day to prevent and repair dry, chapped skin.

L’Occitane shea butter lotion to prevent dry and chapped skin. — **This L’Occitane shea butter hand cream** is a must have for dry hand protection and repair.

Overnight Treatment

During times when my skin has been severely dry, chapped, and cracking, I treat them overnight. I use a large amount of one of the best creams for chapped hands and cover them for the night to let it heal my hands while I’m sleeping. I just slather them with the ointment and cover them with my husband’s socks. (You can use gloves to cover them, I just use socks since it’s convenient and they are large enough to fit over my hands.) Then I settle in for the night, and wake up to soothed hands. You may have to do this multiple nights in a row, but trust me, this stuff really works!

After struggling with dry, cracked skin for sometime now, I have learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t to help prevent and repair dry, cracked, and chapped skin. The remedies and tips above have been very useful to me to prevent and treat dry hands, and I hope that what I have learned with my skin issues will help you resolve yours. If you’re looking for some other great self-care ideas, check out my post here!

The 5 Best Ways to Save Money When Shopping

November 22, 2022 by Everyday Alaska

With prices of everything on the rise these days, everyone is looking for ways to save money when shopping. Whether grocery shopping, gift shopping, or making larger purchases, all of these ideas will help you save money. Some ideas you may have heard of before, but some you may not have, so keep on reading if you want to keep that cash in your pocket!

What are the best ways to save money when shopping?

Rakuten and TopCashBack

Rakuten and TopCashBack are fantastic money saving apps. Before you shake your head and say you have too many useless apps already, hear me out. I have earned over $200 in cash back from Rakuten. I’ve earned almost $20 from TopCashBack in just one purchase as well. Both of these sites give you cash back on purchases, and also provide you with easy-to-find coupon codes and deals. This way you’re saving money, and also earning money back. I always use them when doing Christmas, birthday, or other gift shopping. You can earn $30 back with a purchase of $30 or more on Rakuten with this link here, and $10 cash back with my TopCashBack referral link.

Earning over $200 with Rakuten has paid for Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, and more.

Price Matching

It never hurts to ask, especially when it comes to price matching. Many stores that you may not expect will price match competitors prices, or match their online price. The place I primarily do this is Petco. Many times the in-store prices at our local Petco are higher than what they have online, so all I have to do is screenshot the online price, show it to the store associate, and they change it to the lower online price.

It’s best to do your research beforehand to make it easier and more convenient for everyone when it’s time for checkout. Have the lower prices of items saved, and check ahead of time to see if the retailer will price match certain items. It’s a fast and easy way to save money.

Compare Prices Online

One of the money saving tips I’ve been using most lately has been comparing prices online. Ever since grocery pick up became popular, grocery stores have the prices of their items online. This makes saving money on groceries and other items much easier. How? Well, you can easily compare prices between stores without the hassle of driving from store to store! But, beware of price changes, as some stores such as Walgreens have different prices listed online than they have in your local store. If you run into this problem, price matching might not always be available, but there is a way to get around this issue and still reduce your shopping expenses.

The secret to saving money and avoiding the price difference is pick up orders. I place my Walgreens orders online, and then am able to get the lower online price plus use any promo codes they may have. It’s one of my favorite money saving hacks. Plus, at some stores such as Safeway, you may get an additional discount for doing your first pick up order as well.

Apps

Store apps will often times have great coupons that will help you stay within your monthly shopping budget. The ones I use most often are for Safeway and Walgreens. According to Intuit “the average cost of food per month for one person ranges from $150 to $300, depending on age.” This cost is quickly rising, so saving money on groceries and lowering your expenses is essential.

Using apps for certain stores allows you to clip digital coupons that members of their rewards program benefit from. I highly recommend doing this as you can save hundreds of dollars over time, and helps me save money every month. These programs may also allow you to accumulate points, such as gas rewards or cash back. You can check out the amount I’ve saved with Safeway coupons and my fuel rewards progress below.

It’s amazing how much you can save with coupons and checking out sale ads.

Email

Sign up for the emails. You may not want to get bombarded with deals and emails from companies and stores all year long, but the first sign-up email usually includes a discount code, which is well worth it. Plus, if you chose to do so, you can always unsubscribe after you have your code and you’ve made your purchase.

Do you have any bonus tips on how to save money when shopping?

Promotional Codes and Coupons

Well I’m glad you asked, because yes, I do have one more great money saving idea! In fact, I just used this idea last night. My husband was looking to save some money on jeans. The ones he wears are often $70 or more, but they were on sale for about 40% off for Black Friday. What a great deal, right! But, since I love to save, I just had to see if an additional coupon would work before he completed his order. A quick Google search helped me find a 20% off coupon. He added it to the order and saved $16 more!

So, this being said, I’d suggest checking for any coupons or promotional codes before placing orders on anything from jeans to Papa Murphy’s pizza! It’s always worth a look! Plus, promo codes can help you save tons on gifts, and with Christmas fast approaching they can be a huge help. (With people spending over $600+ on Christmas gifts according to Ramsey Solutions, this is a great way to save. Also, don’t forget the reason for the season. Save on shopping and enjoy some favorite Christmas traditions, too.)

I know money is a topic no one wants to chat about, but when it comes to saving money we’re all about it! If you want to save money when shopping, using one or all of these ideas will definitely help you. Happy shopping AND saving, friends!

Alaska’s Best Bites: 15+ Foods to Try on Your Alaska Vacation

November 11, 2022 by Everyday Alaska

Are you coming to visit Alaska or making the move here? Check out all the foods to try and the wide variety Alaska has to offer by using the Alaska food bucket list below.

Alaskan Foods to Try

Fish and Seafood

Fish and seafood are two of the foods that Alaska is most known for. Many people come up here to fish for their own catch of these delicacies, while others enjoy it at restaurants during vacation. Whether you’re catching it yourself or having it served up for you at dinner, here are some of Alaska’s most famous fish and seafood bites below.

Salmon-Most Alaskan restaurants you visit will likely have some variety of salmon on the menu for you to try. While many people prefer red (sockeye) salmon, most all varieties of salmon are delicious. You can enjoy it many different ways such as blackened, canned, smoked, or in a dip.

Crab–Deadliest Catch, anyone? You’ll pay a hefty price for this famous Alaskan food, but many say it’s well worth it.

Halibut-Halibut is my absolute favorite fish. Even if you don’t usually enjoy fish, you should give it a try. It’s mild, flakey, light, and delicious. Halibut tacos, burgers, and probably one of the most popular, deep fried halibut, are top on my list of favorite Alaskan foods.

Chowders-Seafood and clam chowders are popular at many Alaskan restaurants.

Deep fried halibut at Captain Patties in Homer, Alaska.

Meat

Many of us Alaskans hunt for our own meat, so we’re often enjoying moose, caribou, bear and more. If you’re visiting friends and relatives here, you may get a chance to have some of their harvest. If not, there are options to enjoy while dining out as well. Also, local meat processors are often a great place to find different Alaskan meats to try.

Reindeer-If you visit Alaska, you’ll see reindeer sausage as a side with many breakfast options, and even as a reindeer dog at hotdog stands.

Beef and Pork-I know these are not unique to Alaska, but you may find places that have Alaska raised meats such as these.

Traditional and Indigenous Foods

If you are lucky enough to try some traditional Alaska Native foods, give them a taste! I’m not too sure if we have an official state food, but if we did it would likely be some of these. Muktuk (whale), “Eskimo ice cream”, fry bread, dried fish, fish eggs, moose tongue, and more are some traditional foods you may come across if you attend an Alaska Native cultural event or stay with a friend or relative who is Alaska Native or makes traditional foods.

Alaska Grown

According to the USDA there are almost 1,000 farms in Alaska. They grow and raise a variety of animals and crops from barley (such as the Alaska Flour Company) to berries, and chickens to goats. According to this article “Alaska depends on shipments for about 95 percent of its food”, so it’s vital to support local food growers so they can continue enriching our local food supply. Check for the “Alaska Grown” sticker in grocery stores such as Safeway and Three Bears to find some great Alaskan foods to try, and support local farmers.

Local made Alaskan foods to try in our local Safeway store. — A display of some of the many Alaska made food options at our local grocery store.

Foraged Alaskan Foods to Try

Mushrooms, and berries, and plants; yay! There are so many tasty, edible goodies out in nature. Grab a berry book, download the Seek app, and grab some friends to go forage with. Just be 100% sure what you pick is edible.

A blueberry pie made with fresh picked, Alaskan blueberries and baked in a purple pottery pie dish. Berries are one of the best Alaskan foods to try. — A blueberry pie made with fresh picked, Alaskan blueberries. The berries made up for my lack of a beautiful crust!

Sides and Snacks

There are a few sides and snacks that you should try while in Alaska.

Sourdough-If you come visit Alaska, many local restaurants will offer sourdough as an option for sandwich bread, toast, and rolls. Honestly, some sourdough is a little too sour for me, but others is quite delicious. Give it a try and decide for yourself!

Kenai Cheese Dip-This dip is incredibly addictive. You can purchase this popular local favorite at grocery stores, at Echo Lake Meats in Soldotna, or find a recipe to mix it up yourself!

Pilot Bread-If you haven’t tried the well-known Alaskan staple, it’s a thick, dense, shelf-stable cracker that is mostly used as a transport system to bring tasty food to your mouth. Top it with PB&J, salmon spread, or whatever you’d like.

Desserts and Sweets

These unique delights would pair well with any popular Alaskan foods.

Alaska Wild Berry Products-Alaska Wild Berry Products has some must-eat Alaskan treats. Jams, jellies, syrups and chocolates filled with with Alaska’s bountiful berries, fireweed and more are a great treat and the perfect gift to bring back to friends or family.

Baked Alaska-Ironically enough, I’ve never tried this dessert, but I’d say if you can find it at a local Alaskan restaurant, give it a try, and share in the comments where you had it. It’s harder to find than you’d think in it’s namesake state!

Drinks

I’m sure you’re anticipating a brewery review here, but I don’t drink beer, so I guess I wouldn’t be much of a help there. But, there are a couple local beverages that you should know about.

Frontier Soda-Root Beer, Cola, Wild Blueberry, and Spruce Tip (my favorite) are the soda choices from Frontier Soda. These uniquely Alaskan sodas are great, and can be found at Three Bears and a other stores around the state.

Teas-There are a few different local companies, such as Felicity Loft, that create teas in Alaska. Give them a try. They make great gifts as well!

Frontier Soda’s root beer made in Alaska. — Enjoying some Frontier Soda with a view.

The above list has some of the best foods you’ll find in Alaska. Halibut, berry filled chocolates, cheese dip, fry bread, moose, local veggies, and more are some Alaskan foods you can try on your vacation. Comment below if you have a favorite, or let us know who one you’re most excited to try!

« Previous Page