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The Best Dog Gift Basket Ideas

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Shopping for you best friend can be difficult, especially if that friend has four legs and is a little furry. But not to worry, I’ve got your shopping list covered! Making a gift basket for a dog is basically the same as making one for a hooman, I mean human. Take time to think about their interests, age, what they would use or need, or a theme, and then check the ideas below to see what matches your little (or big!) buddy the best. The sky’s the limit, and you can spend as little or as much as you like on your pup’s gift basket. 

You can start your dog gift basket a couple different ways. Maybe you have a puppy that needs a bigger bowl? Start with the bowl as the “basket” and fill it from there. Maybe you have a sporty pup that you’re getting a new frisbee for? Start there and see what type of basket or container would be useful. Check out the ideas below to get started, or mix and match ideas to suit your furry friend!

A quick PSA before you start shopping, as well. Make sure that the toys, treats, and items you purchase are suited to your dog’s age, size, and chewing strength, follow the included instructions for the items, and supervise your fur baby while they’re playing.

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.

Puppy Love

Oh, the puppy stage. So much biting, training, treats, and squeaky toys. And don’t forget their adorable little faces. For puppies, I’d suggest getting them a new bowl, since they do grow so fast, or a toy basket to use to hold their gifts. After that, I’d fill it with the following things.

Out little buddy when is was actually little.

Travel and Adventure Buddies

If you have an outdoorsy pup that goes everywhere with you, have I got the ”basket” for you! This dog travel bag is the bees knees. It comes with plenty of pouches, dog food storage bags, two collapsible bowls, and a poop bag pouch. Just fill it with these fun treats and necessities, and you’re ready to go! It has really been a game changer since our lab Trapper goes everywhere with us.

Beach day with our buddy. Check out ways to keep your pup cool here.

The Practical Pup

What do you get the dog that has everything? Great question! I’ve been asking myself that this year as I’ve been trying to figure out what to get our good boy for Christmas, and this is what I’ve come up with. Since he’s four now, he really has all that he needs. An overflowing toy basket, a large variety of treats, a comfy bed. So, for his ”basket”, I’m being selfish this year and getting him something that will benefit both of us. I’m purchasing this dog bowl set up, and a food storage bin. I know, not very exciting for him, but I’m thrilled! Plus, I plan on filling it with these item’s that I know he’ll enjoy. Shhhh, don’t tell him!

Doing a photo shoot with your pup (lots of treats included) is always fun!

Sporty Dogs

Does your dog love playing outside and going for walks? Check out these ideas here, and use a metal tub as a gift basket and storage bin for outdoor toys.

A chocolate lab playing with his frisbee in a kiddie pool. Frisbees are great for dog gift baskets.
Slobber flying, a wagging tail, water everywhere. What more could a lab ask for?

Senior Buddies

As your best friend gets older it may be harder to find gifts for them. They’ve probably collected a lot of toys through the years, and maybe they don’t play as much, but they deserve just as much love. Instead of an actual dog gift basket, why not get them the bed of their dreams to relax on and leave them some special gifts on it.

My dog has had this orthopedic bed for almost three years now. It still has the same amount of volume to it, hasn’t got lumpy, and is so easy to wash. You could probably even have a mattress protector covering the inside foam incase your senior pup has accidents, and the foam will help their joints as well. Don’t forget to include a few fun things for your BFF as well, such as the items below.

  • Yummy Chummies (these soft salmon treats will be easy for your dog to chew)
  • Pill Pockets (if your buddy is taking any medicine these may help make it easier)
  • Large Stuffed Animal (good for your pup to nap with)
  • Food Mixers/Toppers (as your pup gets older their sense of taste may decline, using a topper may help their food be more appealing and tasty to them)
  • Puppy Scoops

Homebody Hounds

Is your little buddy not a fan of the great outdoors? No problem, there’s still plenty of gifts they’ll enjoy! Use a treat jar as a gift container and fill it with these fun goodies.

If you’re looking for the perfect dog gift basket ideas for your pup’s birthday, Christmas, adoption day, and more, I hope you’ve found them here! What breed of pup are you shopping for and what do you plan on getting them? Leave a comment below and happy shopping!

Load up a dog gift basket and get ready to party!

5 Reasons to Skip Anchorage on Your Alaska Vacation

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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.

Some of you may look at this title and think I’m crazy. ”I love Anchorage!” ”Anchorage is a must-see part of Alaska.” ”Anchorage was my favorite stop on our last Alaskan vacation.” ”I live in Anchorage, and I love it!” Okay, well I’ll save you some time and say clearly this post isn’t for you. But, if you’re thinking about visiting Alaska, and Anchorage in particular, read on.

When you think of Alaska, you think of traffic, views of multistory buildings, big box stores….. Wait, you don’t? Well, that’s what you get when you visit Anchorage. First of all, I’d like to say not everything about Anchorage is negative, though. There are many great people, restaurants, shops, and activities to do in Anchorage. But, if you only experience Anchorage, you’re not experiencing real Alaska, and these are some of the reasons why.

It’s Crowded

If you’re coming to Alaska, chances are you want to get away from it all and experience the quiet and solitude of The Last Frontier. Anchorage is not the place to do that. It’s population of less than 300,000 may not be large in comparison to where you’re from, but in Alaska that’s pretty crowded. People call it Los Anchorage for a reason. If you’re looking for a peaceful, wilderness experience, why come to the biggest city in the state?

Traffic

As I just said, Anchorage may not be a metropolis to you, but there still is traffic. Why spend your vacation stuck in the hustle and bustle of the city life when you can be out enjoying our great state? Skip Anchorage traffic and explore other areas of Alaska without the hassle of stoplights.

Heading out of Anchorage in the big city traffic.

The View

Unless you enjoy looking at big box stores, you should set your sights on a different area. Don’t get me wrong, there are even beautiful views in Anchorage such as Point Woronzof and Flattop, but you’ll see much more without the obstructions of the city.

Touristy

I guess the fact that the more visited areas of Anchorage are more ”touristy” makes sense, but you’re not coming to Alaska to buy gimmicky souvenirs. Like any other tourist destination, Anchorage has a host of places that cater to visitors. But, if you end up in Anchorage and are looking for real, authentic, made in Alaska gifts, check out the Native Arts Market and other markets, small businesses, and even Safeway and Three Bears for Alaska made goods and food. Also, look for the ”Made in Alaska” bear logo on products as well.

If you’re looking for more genuine, fun, and educational experiences in Anchorage, check out Fur Rondy and the Alaska Native Heritage Center. If you do end up spending time in Anchorage, those are two great places to do it.

The Anchorage Iditarod start. Check out both the Anchorage and Willow restart for different views.

Big City Similarities

I never noticed this until I got to travel more, but all bigger cities tend to look the same no matter what state you’re in. The same chain restaurants, the same box stores, the same big roads, with the same slew of stoplights. If you enjoy that, then that’s awesome. But, if you’re coming to Alaska that might not be your cup of tea during your vacation here.

That isn’t to say there’s not a great number of local restaurants, small business shops, and local activities to do in Anchorage, though. If you do spend time in the big city, please take the time to look up local businesses while you’re there. Skip the chain restaurants and box stores, and shop, eat, and support local Alaskan places.

Chances are if you’re visiting Alaska you’ll be in Anchorage at some point. It’s hard to miss if you’re flying in and not going to Fairbanks or driving up through Canada. If you do find yourself in Los Anchorage on your Alaskan vacation, take time to shop local, avoid the gimmicky tourist traps, and visit educational and fun places while you’re there, but don’t spend your whole vacation in Anchorage. Get out of the city and experience the scenic beauty, local hangouts, and amazing adventures that you’re coming here to see.

Is the Instant Pot Really Worth It?

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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.

Small kitchen appliances. Is it possible to have too many? My head says no, but my shelf space says yes. Read ahead to find out if the Instant Pot is one of those appliances you should make room for on your shelf, or if you should save the money and the shelf space. If you want the final verdict, you can skip to the bottom, otherwise read on to get the whole scoop.

Cons

I figured we might as well start with the downsides and work our way to the pros in this Instant Pot review, so here we go!

The Learning Curve

My husband and I were lucky enough to receive an Instant Pot Duo Nova for Christmas a few years back. I was so excited, but also terrified. Pressure cooking dinner in our kitchen?! Umm, no thank you. I wasn’t too sure about using it for quite awhile, so there it sat. Then, after seeing many good recipes and the benefits of using this cooker, I decided to give it a try.

I throughly read the instructions (a first for me since I usually just wing it), watched how-to videos on YouTube, and built up the confidence to do my test run with it. I would love to say it went swimmingly, but it totally freaked me out. The sound of the pressure being released was much louder than I anticipated, and I thought it was going to blow up. Not fun. But, everything went as it should and I was ready to get cookin’!

After figuring out how to operate it, it was time to learn about cooking times. This was a learning curve, but now I feel like I’ve finally got it figured out. Cook time magnets and stickers really helped me figure out times, but there were a few instances in between where I expected to pull out fully cooked chicken and ended up having it raw in the middle. Time and repetition has helped me get a handle on cooking with the Instant Pot. Now I feel much more comfortable using it, and get more consistent results.

This cook time sticker is a helpful guide to on the Instant Pot.

Space

The downside of the Instant Pot is that it is large. If you have a smaller house like me, then you know space in the kitchen is valuable. This appliance has to be fairly big for what it does and the volume they can hold, but they really take up a hefty amount of counter and shelf space.

Pros

Now that we’ve covered the cons, lets move on to all the positives of the Instant Pot.

Variety

This is really a multifunctional kitchen tool. You can use it for slow cooking, steaming, rice cooking, and more. Plus, there are tons of recipes out there to use (just check Pinterest!), which really gives you a good variety of things to cook.

Stove Top Space

The Instant Pot really shines during holidays. When you’ve got all your burners filled up, you can set up the Instant Pot on your counter and cook a side or main dish there. I think it’s especially useful for cooking mashed potatoes when making a spread for Christmas or Thanksgiving.

Multitasking

In a rush to make dinner for guests but you also have to clean up the kitchen before they get there? No problem! Get your Instant Pot meal started and let it do all the work cooking while you clean.

My most made Instant Pot meal. Steel cut oats and raisins, topped with nuts and banana after cooking.

Quick Meals

Instant Pot’s really do make quick work out of cooking. I primarily use mine for four different things: rice, chicken, potatoes, and steel cut oats. Using this handy appliance for steel cut oats every morning makes breakfast a breeze. No waiting for water to boil or making sure it doesn’t boil over, and it’s consistent. It’s just so simple.

The Final Review

So, now that you’ve read about the pros and cons, what do you think? After using my Instant Pot for a few years now, I’d say it’s worth getting. If you can swing the space to squeeze an Instant Pot between your waffle iron and toaster, it’s time to try the Instant Pot for yourself!

Tip: If you’re looking for a great deal on the Instant Pot, check out sales during and around major holidays, including Black Friday!

My Most-Loved Christmas Traditions

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I love traditions. Seasonal traditions, holiday traditions, cultural traditions. All of them. So, that being said, you can correctly assume that there are many Christmas traditions I love, and I’ll be sharing those with you here!

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.

Lefse

Does your family have a Christmas tradition that is traditional to your heritage? We do! Making lefse is one of them. Lefse is like a very thin Norwegian tortilla made with potatoes, and my family really enjoys it. Making something from your heritage with your family is a great way to start the Christmas season. Not sure what traditions are associated with your heritage? Check it out on Google, or adopt a fun tradition from a different culture as well!

DIY Your Own Wreath

Start a new Christmas tradition, save money, and have fun doing it! A few years ago I started making my own Christmas wreaths, and it’s so much fun! All I do is use a metal wreath frame, cut some branches from trees on our property, and weave branches through the wire frame. Then, I add a bow, lights, and any additional touches I’d like from the craft store. When Christmas is over, we have a campfire using the branches, and I save the frame, faux berries, lights, and bow for the next year. It’s super simple, takes up virtually no space between seasons, and is very cute and customizable.

Tip: If you don’t have branches near your home to cut, you can use Christmas garland to weave through the frame. You can check out some other great DIY crafts here!

Fontanini

Fontanini is a company that makes beautiful, heirloom quality Nativity sets. My grandma and mom got me started with a set when I was five, and I’ve been collecting pieces to the Nativity ever since. It’s 100% my favorite thing to set up during Christmas, and is a great reminder of the reason for the season.

Part of the Fontanini collection. Mary and Joseph passing the innkeepers home, where they found there was ”no room in the inn”.

Operation Christmas Child

Tis the season to bless and be blessed! Operation Christmas Child sends shoeboxes full of necessities, toys, and more to children around the world. We have been packing shoeboxes for a few years now, and it’s so fun to shop for these items, write letters to recipients, and see what countries they end up going to. Operation Christmas Child is really spreading joy to the world! Follow them on Instagram to see the impact your shoeboxes will make!

If you’re looking to donate locally, there are often many organizations looking for volunteers and donations at homeless shelters, food banks, churches, and more. Also, another great way to donate is to give gifts in someones name. For example, if you have a friend or relative that ”already has enough stuff” and you’ve been told they don’t want a gift, why not give a donation in their name? You can do this in your local area, or around the globe, and it makes for a great gift all around.

Tip: Want to verify that you’re money is going to a reputable charity? Check out Charity Navigator or Charity Watch to verify where your gifts are going before you donate.

Packing some Operation Christmas Child boxes.

Sledding

If you’re spending Christmas in a snowy state, now is the time for all those fun winter activities. One of my favorites is sledding, followed by cozying up inside with a toasty cup of hot chocolate.

Christmas Lights Tour

Another one of my favorites, the Christmas lights tour! Crank up the Christmas tunes and cruise your neighborhood for lights. You never know what you might see!

A camper display at the drive thru light show in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Christmas Movies

Grab the popcorn, blankets, and Christmas classics, it’s movie night! Watch some retro Rudolph and enjoy the fun of your childhood favorites.

Hallmark Ornaments

A fun Christmas collection to start is with Hallmark ornaments. You can collect series of them every year, or choose a little something different each season. They make great Christmas gifts as well.

Cookies

You can’t go through the Christmas season without whipping up a batch of yummy cookies. Ever since I can remember, my mom has been making sugar cookies for Christmas. We’d have my cousins and friends over to decorate, and it was so fun. Baking and decorating cookies with friends and family is one of my favorite Christmas traditions.

Cutting out some sugar cookies to decorate.

Delivering Treats

Once you have those cookies done, it’s time to spread that joy around! Take time to visit your family, friends, neighbors, and others during this season, and bring them some tasty treats, too.

Tip: You can often find cookie tins at 70% off or more after Christmastime each year. That’s the prefect time to stock up for next year’s deliveries!

Fruitcake

Don’t knock it till you try it! And if you’ve tried it and didn’t like it, give another recipe a shot. I really don’t love some fruitcakes, but my grandma’s fruitcake recipe is a Christmas staple. Whether you’re making it, eating it, or both, you’ve at least got to try it once!

Christmas Plays

Visit Christmas plays, concerts, and more in your area. A church in our town does “Bethlehem Revisited” ever year, which accounts the events of the birth of Jesus. It’s pretty magical to see, and is great for little kiddos, those who may not know the story of Jesus’s birth, and a good reminder of the meaning of Christmas for all of us.

Bethlehem Revisited in Soldotna, Alaska. The Christmas tradition with real meaning.
A little bit of Bethlehem in Soldotna, Alaska.

Matching Pajamas

You can roll your eyes at this one, it’s fine. I just can’t get over how cute matching family pajamas are, especially when we get them for our dog as well. It’s just too adorable, and makes for a good gift to open on Christmas Eve.

Cut Down Your Own Christmas Tree

For about seven years now, we’ve been cutting down our own Christmas trees. Are they full, perfect, and beautiful? No. Do we have a fun and memorable time doing it? Yes! If you have property or an area near you where you can harvest your own tree, take advantage of it and start a new Christmas tradition.

Cutting down Christmas trees. One of my favorite new Christmas traditions.
It may not be the perfect tree, but it’s the perfect one for me!

Christmas Breakfast

A tradition I’m hoping to start doing is Christmas/Christmas Eve breakfast. Maybe lingonberry crepes? Maybe fruit soup? I haven’t decided yet, but I’ll let you all know what we end up doing this year!

Hopefully this post has helped you get in the Christmas spirit and added some meaningful and fun traditions to this beautiful season. Share your favorite Christmas traditions in the comments below, and let me know if you plan on starting any of the traditions you read about in this post! Merry Christmas, friends!

Essential Things You Need to Do When Preparing Your Camper for Winter

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Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted.

Winterizing. Yup, I said it. The time is upon us to get our campers, RVs, fifth wheels, toy haulers, and travel trailers ready for winter. Winter comes early here, so our fifth wheel is already winterized and parked for the snowy season. Now that we’ve gone through this winterization process for many seasons, I feel like I’ve got a good system down and can let you know about all the essential things you need to have and do to prepare you camper for winter.

The last trip of the season before the snow came.

Empty Your Tanks

This is an essential step, and my least favorite part of camper chores. It’s time to dump the tanks. Gray tanks, black tanks, fresh water, it all needs to be out so nothing freezes up. By the time our fifth wheel camping ends, dump stations here are already closed. If you have the same problem in your area, check into septic pumping services near you. That’s what I did this season, and they come right to your house to pump your tanks out for you. So convenient! Just be sure to follow the instructions on your individual RV to dump your camper properly and completely.

Pro Tip: Using a clear elbow when dumping your tanks makes a major difference. You can ensure that it’s completely empty, and see if it needs to be flushed out more, if you have that option on your camper. Check them out here!

Empty Out Your Food

Even if that pasta sauce’s expiration date isn’t until next summer, and you’ll be back in your camper by then, take it out. Any perishable item, even if it’s in a can or jar, should be out of you travel trailer. You don’t want any rodents or other pests to be moving in for the winter, so take the food source out. Also, during the freeze/thaw of winter, things will expand, contract, and possibly explode. No one wants to open their camper up to the remnants of summer soda pop’s past splattered all over their walls.

There was a lot to clean out after our last trip! Hopefully we’ll be more organized next year!

Pest Control

Knock on wood, we haven’t had this problem in our fifth wheel, and I hope we never do. “Prevention is the best cure” though, so stop your pest problem before it starts. My aunt suggested Irish Spring Soap to keep mice away, which I’m going to buy this weekend to leave in our camper for the winter. I’ve also heard that the scent of peppermint and a few other things keeps unwanted guests away. Have you tried these options or any others before? If so, please leave a comment, and let everyone know how it worked!

Antifreeze

Now it’s time to prevent any freezing in your camper’s plumbing. We use -50°F antifreeze, but you can use whatever formula is appropriate for your winter temperatures. Follow the instructions provided with your RV to complete this step, or hire someone who can do this for you.

Pro Tip: From what I have experienced, it seems like Walmart is the cheapest place to purchase your RV antifreeze, but shop around in your area as well for the best price

Setting out the DampRid for winter.

DampRid

There is a surprising amount of condensation and moisture that occurs in your camper over the winter. I wouldn’t have realized this until we started using DampRid. DampRid buckets absorb moisture in the air and trap in within the absorbent crystals in the buckets. We use large buckets in our toy haulers garage and living room, and smaller ones for the bathroom and bedroom. They do a fantastic job of keeping our toy hauler free of excess moisture.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Unfortunately, we didn’t have a lot of time to do this before freeze up this year, but cleaning and maintenance are important steps in preparing your camper for winter. Make sure slide out seals are conditioned, inspect your roof for leaks or damage, reseal any areas that need it, wash your camper, and do whatever else needs to be done so you can hop on in and start camping ASAP once spring hits!

Pro Tip: Double check that all of your roof vents are closed! Leaks from snow and rain can cause serious damage to your camper, so it’s always good to make 100% sure these are closed.

I hope this list has helped you prepare you RV, camper, fifth wheel, or travel trailer for the winter ahead. Putting away our camper is usually the last winter chore we have before the snow really starts, so it’s the official end of fall for us. But don’t fret, there’s plenty of things to enjoy during winter as well! And it’s the perfect time to plan your summer camping trips and determine what else you need in your RV! Winter isn’t the end of camping, it’s just a season to plan your next adventure. Happy planning, folks!

The Real Cost of Winter in Alaska

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Are you thinking about moving to Alaska or are maybe just curious about the cost of living here? That’s great, I’m here to help! I’ve prepared a list of items to help you learn about the cost of living in Alaska during the winter. This list isn’t 100% comprehensive, but contains many of the things you’ll need to think about when budgeting for Alaskan winters.

I know as you read this some of these things may sound discouraging and overwhelming. This list isn’t intended to dismay you, but to inform you so you can be prepared for our longest and coldest season. The reality is, winter in Alaska is harsh, cold, and dark. But this season is also full of fun adventures, cozy nights by the fire, beautiful crisp days, and so much more. Winter is one of my favorite seasons in The Last Frontier, and the more you are prepared for it, the more you can enjoy it.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted.

Winter Tires

You’ll want to have studded tires on your vehicle during winter. Some will say you can get by without them, but I think they make an immense difference. Things to think about as it relates to the cost are the tires themselves, tire change over (if you won’t be doing it yourself), and storing the tires. For example, we have a dually pickup, so we have the cost of six tires, spring and winter tire changes if we don’t have time to do it, and an area in our backyard to store them on a pallet under a tarp. Ideally, I’d love to have a shed to store them in, but it’s just too costly currently.

Winterizing

If you have an RV, camper, equipment, boat, or anything else that can freeze up during winter, you’ll need to winterize it. For example, if you are winterizing a fifth wheel like we just did, some things to take into account are the price of RV antifreeze, dumping your camper, Damp Rid (if you plan on using it for moisture control), and whatever else you may need. Plus, if you don’t do the service yourself, factoring in the cost of labor will have to be considered, too. You can check out a list of camper winterization tips here!

The last trip before winterizing.

Storage

If you want any campers/RVs/vehicles/boats stored for the winter, that will be another cost of winter in Alaska. It’s handy to have those types of things covered during winter, but it can be costly. Pro tip, storage facilities fill up fast, so call as early as possible to get a spot. You can also check into getting things wrapped so snow will slide better, and snow can be brushed off easier.

Home Servicing

If you need your furnace serviced, yard maintenance, sewer pumped, gutter work, or any other services done for winter, you’ll need to consider these in your budget.

Utilities

Utilities are a big thing to factor into the cost of winter in Alaska. With dropping temperatures and darker days, your lights will be on more. Also, your heat will be up, and so will your bills. If you have an older, less energy efficient home like we do, you’ll obviously be paying more. If you supplement heat with wood you cut yourself for zero cost, that’ll lower your cost. If you plug your tuck in, your electric bill will be higher. There are many things that can cause your utilities to fluctuate, so be aware of those costs.

Vehicles plugged in outlets in Fairbanks, Alaska where you’ll 100% need to use that block heater!

Frozen Pipes

If you have issues with heating your home, you may end up with frozen pipes. I don’t know how much it costs to fix this, and I never want to find out. This is where keeping your furnace and other heat sources in tip top shape really comes in handy. And it’s also where house sitters come in handy.

House Sitters

Did I mention winter’s are dark and cold? This usually leads to people traveling outside (lower 48) at some point during the winter, if they’re can, to get some sunshine and vitamin D. But when you’re gone in the winter, you can’t just leave your house unattended. If you do, it may lead to the frozen pipes problem mentioned above. Thus, you’ll need a house sitter. If you’re lucky, a friend, family member, or good neighbor may be able to watch it while you’re gone. If not, you may need to hire someone in your area to check on it for you and ensure the heat is on and things are good while you’re soaking up the sun.

Vitamin D

What does this have to do with your winter budget? Well, with longer, dark winters, us Alaskans don’t get much sun in the winter. Thus we don’t get enough vitamin D. I’m not a medical professional, so I am only speaking from personal experience here, but your doctor will likely recommend that you take vitamin D. Just another small thing to budget for during winter and year round.

Snow Removal

Do you plan on doing your own snow removal? Will you need shovels, a snow blower, a four wheeler or truck plow? Those options, and the maintenance on them, can get pretty pricy. Depending on what area you move to, you may be able to get away with just a shovel and snowblower (although I’ve never used a snowblower, honestly). Or, you may need a plow on your four wheeler or truck, which is what I’d recommend if you’re in a snowier area. If you plan on hiring out for your snow removal, that can also bring your budget up. You then have to depend on someone else to show up before the snow gets too deep, but sometimes that’s the only option. Just make sure whomever you hire has many good reviews before entrusting them to take on the job.

Clearing off the highway.

Okay, are you sufficiently stressed out about the cost of winter in Alaska yet? No? Awesome! Yes? Don’t worry too much! Being prepared for the next season is a big part of living in Alaska. Budgeting for the next season is a big part of being prepared. Now that you know what you’re getting into, I sincerely hope this helps you plan ahead and have a successful winter in our beautiful state. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments!