Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts

2017 Florida Hurricane Sales Tax Holiday 6/2 - 6/4/2017




The 2017 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, June 2, 2017, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, June 4, 2017. During this holiday period, qualifying items related to disaster preparedness are exempt from sales tax. However, the sales tax holiday does not apply to the rental or repair of any of the qualifying items. Additionally, the sales tax holiday does not apply to sales in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment, or airport.


Qualifying Items
Selling for $10 or less:- Reusable ice (reusable ice packs)

Selling for $20 or less:- Any portable self-powered light source (powered by battery, solar, hand-crank, or gas):

Flashlights Lanterns Candles

Selling for $25 or less:- Any gas or diesel fuel container, including LP gas and kerosene containers

Selling for $30 or less:- Batteries, including rechargeable batteries, listed sizes only (excluding automobile and boat batteries):

AA-cell C-cell D-cell 6-volt 9-volt - Coolers and ice chests (food-storage; nonelectrical)

Selling for $50 or less:- Tarpaulins (tarps)- Visqueen, plastic sheeting, plastic drop cloths, and other flexible waterproof sheeting - Ground anchor systems

- Tie-down kits- Bungee cords - Ratchet straps- Radios (powered by battery, solar, or hand-crank)
Two-way Weather band
Selling for $750 or less:- Portable generators used to provide light or communications, or to preserve food in the event of a power outage.


First-aid kits (always exempt)



See more Information at LINK

Tips to Stay Cool When its Hot #TestedTough

 
Everywhere in the nation it has been steamy hot and humid this summer, Florida is no exception. We are planning a trip to the Canadian border later this month and have been watching the weather and its in the 80's there too. But the hot steamy weather doesn't mean you can't get out an enjoy a nice walk or activity outside.
 
Here are some tips to stay cool in the hot, humid weather -
 
  1. Timing is Everything - If you can, choose your time outside when its cooler, like early morning or early evening. If there is rain, wait til afterward and get outside when its cooled down from the rain.
  2. Drink Water - drink more water than you usually do, guzzle a glass just before you get outside.
  3. Acclimate yourself to heat - being tolerant to the heat doesn't happen in one day, it takes weeks of getting outside in the warm weather and getting active. You will notice that as the days go by it doesn't bother you as much.
  4. Stay in the shade - if you have to take a break, get out of the sun and into the shade or AC.
  5. Don't overexert yourself if you're not in shape - only tackle what you can handle. Be more careful to not over do it if you are in a remote location and help is not immediately available. Wear your Fitbit Charge to monitor your heart rate to be sure you don't get in peak zone too long.
  6. Dress right - forget about fashion, be practical and wear light colored and loose fitting clothing that will allow your body to breath and, yes sweat. Sweat is natures way of cooling your body. We love the brand #Columbia and especially the Omni freeze zero shirts that provide cooling effects when damp. When we go canoeing, we just put the shirts in a gallon size Ziploc bag, pour a bottle of cold water on the shirt and squish it around til its all saturated and then put on the wet shirt. Its chilling like being in air conditioning for hours! 


 
 



Frugal Indoor Projects For When It Rains and Rains

It rained all night, and more rain is expected all day. Actually rain is expected for a week. No bike riding in this kind of weather. Usually my criteria to ride is a prediction of less than 40% chance of rain. I just need a half hour window of clear skies at exactly the right time, two times a day and I will ride. It's pretty obvious that summer time in Florida it rains, but I'm determined to not let it side track my plans if I can. So I plan on getting wet.
What about you? Are you going to pout and whine about it raining, or being too hot? Shit happens like this in the summer. Everyday actually. It's either hot or rainy. Both are good things, in their own way. So you have to just live with it. This is NORMAL. Get over it.
Do what you would do anyway. If you can't do anything outdoors, guess what - I bet you could do some indoor projects. There are lots of times during the year when we know we need to do a job but put if off saying "It's too nice out, let's do that some rainy afternoon". Well, here's my list -
  • clean the bathrooms - sink, vanity, mirror, toilet, shower, tub.
  • vacuum the carpets, mop the floors, even get out the attachments 
  • wash laundry
  • change the bed sheets
  • polish and dust the furniture, table tops, vents
  • clean and organize my desk - get rid of the piles of old mail and papers
  • paint touch up spots we missed from our remodel, plus other walls needing it
  • toss expired coupons, booklets and flyers. Label and organize the valid ones. 
  • clean up the pantry and toss old food and spices 
  • bake some cookies like chocolate chip
  • have sex with your partner, or by yourself
  • make some salads - like corn salsa, pea salad or broccoli salad
  • go through closets and clean out those clothes you haven't worn in two years
  • organize your spare room whatever you use it for, there is stuff in there that needs to be tossed out or donated.
The point is there are a lot of productive things you can do when the weather is not cooperative. Just make a "Honey Do" list and post it on the refrigerator. And cross things off as they are accomplished.

Frugal Ways to Beat the Heat

America is being subjected to another heat wave, especially the folks up North. Actually, here in central Florida it was a beautiful, cool morning of 71F and promises to be a great day with virtually no chance of rain. It's a great day to get outside!
 
Anyway, those of you with the oppressive heat and humidity will probably want to get out early, and then find somewhere cool inside during the afternoon – unless of course you don't have air conditioning. Then you'll want to head out to some cool places besides your un-air conditioned house.
 
  • The Library is a great choice for a cool indoor location that won't tempt you to spend money. You can surf the internet and read anything you want. Or you could bring your knitting and sit in a corner listening to your ipod, or favorite afternoon drive time radio show.
  • A Museum or historical site is another great choice to spend some time indoors in a cool location. This option may have an admission fee, but you might actually broaden your mind here.
  • The Grocery Store is always cold, especially in the frozen foods and dairy aisle. Just make sure you stick to your list. Plan your shop for the middle of the day when it's the hottest, but be sure you don't get stuck in traffic on the way home or all the ice cream and Popsicles will melt.
  • The community pool or a lake – just make sure there are no gators in that lake. We saw a big one at the State Park river this weekend. If you don't have a pool or a lake, pull out the old sprinkler and a large piece of plastic and just roll around on the ground in the water, It will cool you down just fine.
  • A Shady park – bring a chair and sit in the shade. If there is a breeze this will be like natures air conditioning.
  • A Church – a good old fashioned big church built with lots of block will be a nice cool place to hang out, say a prayer that the heat will end soon, and hope that winter will not be that bad – you're not complaining about the heat.
Remember to drink lots of water. No, more than that even. And don't run your heat generating appliances like dishwashers, dryers and ovens in the daytime. You're A/C can only cool your house about 20F cooler than the outside temp, so if its 100F and your thermostat is set for 65F you're in for a surprise. Wear loose fitting, light fabrics and skip the socks – wear sandals to let your body acclimate and tolerate the heat better.
 
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