Winter-Proof Your Wallet

The Trade Professional’s Guide to Surviving the Idaho Slowdown

In Idaho, the ‘feast’ of peak building season often turns into a ‘famine’ in January and February. When

hours drop and the weather bites, many skilled professionals lean on high-interest credit cards just to

bridge the gap. This guide gives you a tactical blueprint to keep your bank account as strong as your

summer overtime.

Step 1: The ‘Hill and Valley’ Budget

• Don’t build your lifestyle around your biggest paycheck.

• Analyze the Average: Review your last 3 years of income to find your ‘base’ (minimum) vs. ‘bonus’

(overtime).

• Live in the Valley: Make sure fixed expenses—rent, mortgage, truck payments—fit your

lowest-earning months.

• Save the Hill: Treat every overtime dollar as future income for winter, not spending money for today.

Step 2: The Winter Sinking Fund

• A sinking fund is a dedicated savings bucket for a known expense—in this case, the winter slowdown.

• Do the Math: Calculate how much you need to cover January–March.

• Automation is King: Set up automatic transfers during ‘Hill’ months (May–October) to hit your target by

December 1st.

Step 3: Tool & Truck Debt Triage

• Debt is the heaviest weight when hours are lean.

• Avoid the Tool Truck Trap: Skip high-interest financing on gear that doesn’t boost your hourly rate

immediately.

• Snowball Your Debts: List debts from smallest to largest and crush the smallest first for momentum.

Step 4: Unemployment Optimization

• Unemployment is common in outdoor trades—but it shouldn’t be your only plan.

• Bridge Strategy: Use benefits to protect savings, not maintain an unsustainable lifestyle.

• Tax Withholding: Set aside a portion for taxes to avoid an April surprise.

Does Your Crew Need This?

Financial stress among your team leads to distraction, safety risks, and turnover. CK Financial

Coaching offers on-site Winter-Proof Workshops and private coaching to keep your crew focused on

the job—not their debt.