Outsourcing chores
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Pay someone to handle tasks you dislike or are poor at if it allows you to focus on what you excel at.
It is more efficient than doing them yourself.
one person who lived it
Work out cleaning costs based on the value of time saved rather than just frugality.
Frugality should allow flexibility and choices; saving time is worth the cost.
one person who lived it
Choose more frequent cleaning schedules, such as weekly, to lower the per-visit cost.
Cleaners have less to do each time compared to longer intervals.
one person who lived it
Treat service workers with friendliness and respect.
It goes a long way.
one person who lived it
If you dread housework, try swapping cleaning duties with a friend so you clean each other's homes.
It feels relaxing and reduces avoidance.
one person who lived it
Do not look for cleaning work on Craigslist.
You will likely encounter sketchy situations.
one person who lived it
Handle daily maintenance yourself and hire a cleaner for periodic deep cleaning resets.
Dust and dirt ground into surfaces can cause premature wear on floors, counters, and cabinets.
one person who lived it
Avoid touching electronics to prevent being accused of breaking them.
You may be accused of breaking a device even if you were only dusting it.
one person who lived it
Hire a small local business or independent cleaner for better rates and personalized service.
Money goes directly to the provider, and they have a reputation to maintain.
- You must accept their individual work ethic as there are no company rules.
one person who lived it
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Recognize that the 40-hour work week assumes a partner handles domestic labor like cooking and cleaning.
one person who lived it
Treat hiring a cleaner as a frugal choice if it improves quality of life more than spending the same amount on pointless material items.
one person who lived it
Stay out of the cleaner's way by moving to different areas of the house while they work on other rooms.
one person who lived it
View hiring a cleaner as buying back your time and effort rather than a moral failure, recognizing housecleaning as an honorable profession.
one person who lived it