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2 income family here- we do not have a house keeper. I do at least a load of laundry a day and hubby and I split the cooking and cleanup. We both vacuum and mop when it needs it. We pick up the house as soon as we get home and our daughter (8) keeps her bathroom, bedroom and playroom cleaned. We clean bathrooms once a week and dust once and week. Fans, blinds base boards etc get done when needed. I would like a cleaning lady but I can't pay someone for something I can do.
For those of you that are two income families, do you have housekeepers / cleaners / maids help you with your house?
My spouse and I are struggling. There is an endless pile of laundry that needs to be done, cooking home cooked meals every night, constant cleaning, vacuuming. Helping our child with her needs.
I really am reluctant to hire cleaners because of the cost associated, but I don't see anyway that we're supposed to have the time to get everything done.
Any advice (from other two income parents) would be helpful.
I have not had a housekeeper except for the year my daughter was born and I was home with her anyway. Even then I wasn't working smart, just hard. People just need a system.
2 income family here- we do not have a house keeper. I do at least a load of laundry a day and hubby and I split the cooking and cleanup. We both vacuum and mop when it needs it. We pick up the house as soon as we get home and our daughter (8) keeps her bathroom, bedroom and playroom cleaned. We clean bathrooms once a week and dust once and week. Fans, blinds base boards etc get done when needed. I would like a cleaning lady but I can't pay someone for something I can do.
This is how it was when we had both boys at home. I worked 1st shift and he worked 3rd so we didn't need childcare. We were in our 30's at the time. In doing this, we were able to take some nice vacations to Disney World and pay extra each month on our house mortgage. I used to come home at lunch to put the clothes in the dryer that I washed that morning. Supper went in the crockpot before I left the house in the morning. Cleaning was a little each day. The whole family shopped on Saturday mornings for the week.
Giving up other things, we could have afforded it but I really don't like people that I don't know well in my house.
If you can afford a housekeeper, do you really need the second income?
A housekeeper is $150 for a once a month visit, or $100 for a weekly visit here. I imagine the second income is significantly more than $150 (or $400).
For those of you that are two income families, do you have housekeepers / cleaners / maids help you with your house?
My spouse and I are struggling. There is an endless pile of laundry that needs to be done, cooking home cooked meals every night, constant cleaning, vacuuming. Helping our child with her needs.
I really am reluctant to hire cleaners because of the cost associated, but I don't see anyway that we're supposed to have the time to get everything done.
Any advice (from other two income parents) would be helpful.
How often are you doing laundry? 1-2 loads per day makes a world of difference. Even if one person starts the load in the morning and then whoever gets home first puts it in the dryer, it makes a world of difference!
Crock pots OR spending part of a day off cooking meals for the week work wonders. I plan out the menu ahead of time. I also make foods that can be done quickly. I'm a Rachel Ray 30 minute meals type of person.
Vacuuming can be done once a week or spot cleaning can be done.
I used to have someone come once a month to clean the house, more of a deep clean, and it was great for $95/month.
How old is your child? Age appropriate chores can help as well
If you can afford a housekeeper, do you really need the second income?
That second income might be the one that provides benefits, college or retirement savings. Or perhaps both parents truly enjoy what they do. That wasn't the question, it's not our concern, and its off topic quite frankly. I'd think a mod would be more aware.
One income (me), SAHM mom and FOUR DAUGHTERS (14, 11, 9, and 5) and we STILL have a cleaning lady twice a month. Yes, I am ashamed of that.
Why would you be ashamed? You pay someone for a service. There is nothing that requires shame. I hate cleaning and I have always had a cleaning lady. I had one when I worked FT. I had one when I was a SAHM and I have one now that I work PT. I could clean my house if I felt like it, but I would rather pay someone to clean than do it myself. I also pay a lawn guy but my husband and I do the pool ourselves.
I'm a SAHM and for the last three years, since having my son, I have forgone all birthday and christmas presents from DH and instead asked for only one thing: that that money go toward a cleaning service instead. Also, since moving last year we didn't get cable (I was the only one who wanted it, DH didn't care), and again, I said I'd rather put the money towards cleaning/housekeeping/occasional babysitting. I hate cleaning, but also it's a royal pain with a small kid, and it's so totally worth it. I found a lady who is great both as a babysitter when needed and cleaner (done separately of course), and charges a very reasonable rate, much less than large cleaning companies. I get her to come in about twice a month for 2-3 hours and do the heavy-duty things I hate the most - clean bathrooms and kitchen, mop floors, vacuum, dust baseboards. If I worked, you bet we'd have someone come in more often and do the more frequent tasks as well. It's really not that much money - comes out to about the same as that cable would've cost us, and I get soo much more enjoyment out of the cleaner, lol!
If you can afford a housekeeper, do you really need the second income?
Really? A house cleaner 2/month is $160 for me. I make quite a bit more than that.
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