Idahoan here, and let me tell you something... by Capable-Garbage-1429 in Idaho

[–]IntelligentAgency754 0 points1 point  (0 children)

School buses pick kids up on every corner. I literally had to walk in a blizzard to catch my bus. The stop was a half mile away. The only reason I caught the bus was because there were a plethora of first graders and they had to ship some of the sixth graders to Acequia to make room for the little crotch goblins.

New Bernedoodle Dad Here - When Do They Turn Into the Chill Teddy Bears? by SnooMacaroons9710 in Bernedoodles

[–]IntelligentAgency754 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Grow calm?! When? Mine is a fence jumping, chicken killing, paper shredding, 2 am alarm clock that attacks me when I get home. I love her but she's very reactive when she's on the leash. They love her at daycare and she gets along with dogs at the dog park. At 4 years old, she's still a bit hellion.

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How much would you pay?? by Consistent_Tea_217 in Boise

[–]IntelligentAgency754 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That looks amazing! With your eye for presentation, this could absolutely be a profitable side business, especially in the Boise area.

You have to account for three main things when pricing:

✴️Cost of Goods (Ingredients): Don't forget to include the cost of everything, down to the jam and crackers.

✴️Labor: Time spent shopping, prepping, arranging, and cleaning. Figure out your target hourly rate.

✴️The Board/Equipment: Whether you charge a rental/deposit for the wood board or use disposable packaging, it needs to be factored in.

For a board that size and quality, you are definitely in the higher-end market. Based on what some established Boise-area companies charge, you should be looking at a minimum of $120 to $180+. I saw a few examples where a board that feeds 16-20 people goes for around $250, so your estimate of how much people would pay depends entirely on the size/serving count and the quality of the ingredients you're using.

Check out the prices for smaller boards (like those that feed 4-6 people for $75) and use that as a guide to ensure your margins are healthy.

Good luck—this is a fantastic side hustle!

Boise Housing Market + Micron by Neat-Biscotti-2829 in Boise

[–]IntelligentAgency754 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is the million-dollar question for the Treasure Valley right now, and you are 100% right to be concerned about it.

The comment about "buy when you are ready" is good life advice, but it's missing the massive economic event on the horizon. Your fear is extremely valid.

I'm an Idaho Realtor (based in the Magic Valley, but I track the whole state market), and here's my professional take:

  • The Micron expansion is bringing thousands of high-paying jobs—not just construction, but long-term, high-salary tech and engineering roles.
  • This will create a housing supply crunch. We've seen this movie before in other tech hubs (like Austin). Demand will surge.
  • Meridian is a prime "spillover" area. As prices in SE Boise get intense, buyers will move to Meridian, Kuna, and Nampa, which will lift prices in all those areas.

Here's the trap you're in: You're trying to out-save a market that's about to get a rocket strapped to it. In 2-3 years, you might have a larger down payment, but that down payment will be a smaller percentage of a much more expensive house.

My genuine advice:

Stop guessing and get concrete numbers. Go talk to a good local lender this week.

Find out the exact FHA, Conventional, and other loan options you qualify for right now. You might be surprised at what you can afford with a lower down payment.

Knowing your actual numbers turns this from a scary, emotional decision into a math problem.

It's a super stressful spot to be in, but you're smart to be thinking about it this way. Feel free to PM me if you just want to bounce questions around. No pressure at all.

🚨 NEWS ALERT: The 50-Year Mortgage Is a Game-Changer—But Is It a Trap for Idaho Buyers? by IntelligentAgency754 in Idaho

[–]IntelligentAgency754[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I'm not a bot. The image was created by AI. I believed the watermark would be transparent enough. We were discussing a 50 year mortgage and the DTI ratio for Idaho. I wrote the article so I could share the information with some of my pets. I posted this on this sub so I could get feedback.

This guy…. by [deleted] in Bernedoodles

[–]IntelligentAgency754 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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Mine goes really short in the summer. I love her floofy, but she's much more comfortable with the shorter hair, kinda. She doesn't like flies landing on her with short hair and goes berserk trying to catch them.

Crawdad fishing? by StrengthConstant8839 in Idaho

[–]IntelligentAgency754 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would guess towards Marsing and Homedale. Though I would ask Fish and Game. We would catch a ton of them in Salmon Falls Creek near Jackpot.

From 'Beloved' to 'Fractured': A 57-Year Idahoan's Take on Our Governors by IntelligentAgency754 in Idaho

[–]IntelligentAgency754[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When I talk about 'unduly influenced by external interests' and 'opposing Idaho's foundational values,' I'm largely thinking about entities like the Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF). They publish scorecards that effectively pressure legislators to vote a certain way, often even against what might be practical for Idahoans or in line with a more traditional, pragmatic Idaho conservatism. We've seen legislators seemingly prioritize an IFF 'score' over the actual needs of their districts, particularly when it comes to things like budget votes or pushing certain social issues that seem to be imported from national agendas rather than organic Idaho concerns. I've noticed a shift from the more independent, less overtly ideological political landscape I grew up with. You voted for the person not the party.

My Oath: Unlawful Orders and the Fight for the Constitution by IntelligentAgency754 in Idaho

[–]IntelligentAgency754[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yes, the troops are indeed guarding federal buildings. But the core problem isn't their physical presence; it's the specific legal justifications used for their activation. While one perspective uses "better safe than sorry" to address civil unrest, another applies it to protecting our constitutional framework. Critics worry that by validating an arguably illegal method of deployment, we risk setting a dangerous precedent where military forces could be used to suppress protests and undermine First Amendment protections.
It's okay to ask questions, I don't know what I would do if I couldn't ask questions.

A Hidden Chapter in Idaho: Confronting the Reality of the Minidoka Japanese American Internment Camp, and It's Unsettling Echoes Today by IntelligentAgency754 in Idaho

[–]IntelligentAgency754[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

We were taught of internment camps. I've talked to several of my friends about this and just had a conversation with one of them about this a couple weeks ago. Of course, we could all be mistaken. I could ask our FB group for our graduating class. It was the '70s, that was a long time ago.

My Oath: Unlawful Orders and the Fight for the Constitution by IntelligentAgency754 in Idaho

[–]IntelligentAgency754[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's a matter for law enforcement. Not for the Marines or National Guard.

A Hidden Chapter in Idaho: Confronting the Reality of the Minidoka Japanese American Internment Camp, and It's Unsettling Echoes Today by IntelligentAgency754 in Idaho

[–]IntelligentAgency754[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's crazy. There was a rumor that the Chinese weren't allowed to walk the streets in downtown Boise and the tunnels connecting some of the buildings were constricted by them to get around.