By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published Jan 22, 2012 at 6:56 PM

I guess this question hinges on the amount of space that needs clearing in a yard. So take my house. I have an average-sized city lot and I need to shovel in front of my house, a path to the porch, the porch stairs, a path from the back door to the garage and in front of my garage. Pretty typical, but a pain in the arse if I don't go with the "look at it as fresh air and exercise" approach to shoveling.

So I decided I would buy a  snow blower. And so I went to a few stores that sell snow blowers. And I froze with sticker shock. (But this is common for me. I seem to always think things should cost about half of what they do). I did not buy one, but I have not let go of the thought.

Are snow blowers really worth the money? Is it one of those purchases that "pays for itself?" Or is it more like a dishwasher, which, in my opinion, is just as much work as hand washing dishes, just different work?


Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.

Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.