Hi ladies, I would love your opinions please. Little back story I’m Married with 3 kids I’m a stay at home Mum while Hubby works full time. My question is do you ladies outsource jobs around the house? So Do you have cleaners, Gardeners that sort of thing? I actually love gardening but we have a massive garden and by the time I’ve weeded the whole garden I basically have to start again. I got on air tasker and a lovely guy was happy to do it for me but hubby thinks it’s to expensive to get someone to do it but he doesn’t want to help do it either? What does everyone think?
19 Replies
Of course it's easy to for your husband say it's too expensive when it's not him doing the work! He gets no benefit from spending the money if he knows you'll just keep doing it.
I'd be telling him you don't have time. The choices are he can redo the lanscaping to be low maintenance, or pay someone to look after it because you won't be. If you don't make sure he knows how it's affecting you he has no incentive to make a change.
We don’t outsource anything. I am a sahm and hubby works full time and we take care of everything. I take care of the inside and he does the outside. I take care of my car ie washing & vacuuming and hubby his (can’t remember the last time he washed his 😂). Once a year we both work together cleaning the windows, driveway etc.
We're both FT 60+ hours per week and don't outsource.
The only time I hired a cleaner was when I was working 100+ hours and physically couldn't pull my weight with the chores.
Both hubby and I work full time and the kids are at home under the care of someone else whilst we work. So essentially the house is just as messy as us being there all the time.
I outsource a cleaner usually, although of late I have kept up with everything. I also outsource people to assist with other duties such as taking stuff to the tip, cleaning up the outside area etc. (all via AirTasker). Anything hubby says he will do that doesn't get done within X amount of time gets done via Airtasker.
If you need extra help, you need extra help. Stuff what hubby says, it needs doing :)
Personally we don’t outsource but everyone has different priorities. Personally I love working in my garden and mowing the lawns and the kids love having mum outside with them. How old are your kids? Can they help? Why doesn’t hubby want to help? Does he do anything around the house? Can you organise hubby to take the kids out on a weekend for a few hours so you have uninterrupted time to work in the garden? Ultimately it’s between the two of you so you need to come to some sort of compromise wether it be you get help in or he helps out more
It's all well and good to outsource but you have to be able to afford it.
Your husband is saying he feels it's too expensive which says to me that he's concerned about how it will affect the household budget.
If outsourcing means sacrificing something of a higher priority or stretching the budget a little too thin, then I'm with hubby, it's an unjustifiable expense.
If you could still live comfortably with this additional expense, then I'm all for getting someone else in to do odd jobs.
Single parent-
Varies on what is happening in our lives, what we can afford, and what jobs I prefer doing.
I’ve used
1. Lawn mowing
2. Gutter cleaning
3. House cleaning
4. Window washing
I currently work for another family for 3 hours a week doing there kids washing (clothes, sheets, towels) changing sheets, tidying and resetting the kitchen, emptying bins, errands and just doing some tasks that make there lives easier. Both parents work very long hours and the day I work is a long day for both of them so it means they aren’t getting home to the chaos left from breakfast etc and generally makes there lives easier.
If I was a SAHM I wouldn't. But I work so I do occasionally outsource jobs that need doing around the house because I don't have time to do them myself.
I’m a full time working single mum so I’m responsible for everything, outside and inside.
No I don’t outsource it.
If you can afford it, go for it.
If not, with two able bodied people in the home and one that doesn’t work, it should be pretty easy.
Also with the weeding, I spray them, get one of those ones from Bunnings and you don’t even have to bend down. You make it up yourself. That’s the easiest job, hope you aren’t pulling them out one by one.
With two adults in the home and one that doesn’t work, there really isn’t a need to outsource jobs. I wouldn’t waste the money on something that I can do while being home all day.
Just because she’s a stay at home mum doesn’t mean she has time to do everything. It sounds as though hubby needs to step up and start helping around the house, or he else he has to accept the need to budget in the outsourcing of some jobs.
Never outsourced, as a sole parent I’m already working full time to make ends Meet and cleaning other people houses on the side !
I guess those who have money- why not.
I personally find pride in looking after my own things
I outsource a few things.
I get my dog washed by the local mobile guy, I get my lawns done weekly, my house gets a cleaner for 3hrs once a week, and a local kid walks my dog 3x weekly For me.
Total cost for the week: ((my dog gets washed 1x monthly)) $140.
This is worth it to me, so when I get home I can spend time with my child, playing with my dog, making dinner, having valuable time. I work full time as a single mum.
To me, to do my lawns, extra housework on the weekends etc was taking approx 10 hours a week away from family time. To me, it was worth the money.
I still do general housework, I still walk my dog, and I do occasional gardening.
If I have time off, like an RDO or something, then I can cancel the lawns or cleaners and do it myself, but honestly, I like it, I’m supporting local business and I can do things I really enjoy with my family.
The difference between you an op is that you work full time and she is at home full time.
Lmao. So many women act their man can't possibly WORK and do housework as well but oh the kids can help and you can run yourself into the ground because your precious adult child cannot possibly help.
If you can afford it do it yes if it makes life easier
We’ve never been able to afford it. Hubby mows and I garden but it’s not pretty and it’s only raised garden beds.
If you can afford it why not? Paying someone on airtasked for a couple of hours weeding is not a big deal in my book. Sorry but my husband can work 16 hour days and still days he doesn’t work as many hours as I do. I have a cleaner 2 hours once a week. A gardener just to mow - I do the rest. And if my ironing gets out of control o drop a basket off to a lady down the street. It’s not a competition. If you want it done and you have the money just do it babe. You work 24/7 - if anyone deserves it you do!!!
Don’t worry about what everyone else does or thinks, if you are struggling to keep up with the garden as well as the house, kids, cooking etc then go for it (or get a cleaner and do the garden if you prefer!). If hubby doesn’t agree then go away for a week and get him to be you and he will change his tune once he sees how much work it is to look after 3 kids, house, activities, shopping, cooking, garden etc!!! Most husbands at least look after the outside (and should help when they get home with kids, cleaning up etc). I’m sure you don’t just work 9-5!
I do. I have a cleaner that comes once a fortnight. She also does the oven once a month. Im also about to get a Gardner to mow and do the garden. I only work 3 days a week. It is help with being busy with little kids and a husband who works crazy long hours. He just said if it makes me actually sit down and relax at the end of the day and spend time as a family go for it.