'Clean your own house'

I think us older people came from an era you had to be seriously posh to afford a cleaner, and you did all your own DIY.

We (being in our mid 60s) do tend to raise eyebrows at the number of handymen/gardeners/lawn specialists/cleaners/specialist cleaners/oven cleaners/car cleaners turn up to our varying neighbours, most of whom have a healthy bored teenage family who should be quite capable of a few chores, and have no need of a money making scheme (as we did as teenagers).
But we're too frugal to pay anyone to do anything when we can do it ourselves!

I’m skint so I don’t pay for someone else to do anything I can do myself. So cleaning and gardening (aka mowing the grass and planting a few bedding plants) are easy to do myself but I also make a good go at various DIY projects, decorating, changing a headlight bulb etc. There’s a YouTube video for everything!

I suppose that makes sense. I'm a teacher but my kids have teachers. I'm guessing doctors also have GPs.

Exactly this. I don't think there's anything wrong with having a cleaner if it makes life easier and it's affordable. It's no different to paying for other tasks that you could do yourself but choose not to.

I'd like a cleaner, being a cleaner I'm also fed up of it after doing it all day

I'm a cleaner. The only thing that misses me off is clients with really messy houses (think dirty laundry and dishes everywhere) who hire you for 2 hours a fortnight and expect the place to magically be transformed into a Palace.
If you are generally tidy but like the place scrubbed and polished, go for it!

You do exaggerate! It gets said very occasionally. By the way, you do realise that most households don't employ cleaners, surely?

Everyone has the ability to mow their lawn or cook their own pizza or wash their own windows, groom their own dog, do their own nails, paint a room or clean their own car yet many people pay for some or all of these things to be done by others. . It's such a stupid reason.

My cleaner actually does have a cleaner! She says she doesn't have enough time to do her house and cba after a long week at work! She's fabulous and very in demand so i can't say I blame her really.

I have a cleaner. I earn my own money and choose to spend it on employing a professional cleaner. Saves me time and energy.

If I won the lottery I wouldn't tell a soul outside of DH.

But the first clue would be that my house would be sparkling clean.

It is annoying I agree. I would never hire a cleaner or gardener personally, but as you say @LovelyTheresa people generally outsource for plumbing and electrics and building work et al.

Me and DH had a similar issue. Neither one of us does wallpapering. Just hate it/can't do it/don't want to... When we moved house some 20 years ago, we hired a company to wallpaper throughout our new house. Hall stairs and landing, lounge/diner, and the 4 bedrooms.

We got such shade thrown on us, and bitchy and sarcastic remarks for not doing it ourselves from about half a dozen people! It was particularly bad from a couple of people who seemed to redecorate their home (themselves!) every other fucking year! One woman (at my workplace,) even said 'what kind of a man can't put wallpaper up?' I said 'he just doesn't WANT to do it and neither do I!

About 6 months later, her husband had his computer/PC pack up, and my DH is an I.T. computer boffin, (and works in I.T.) The same woman came to me and said 'can your other half have a look at Steve's computer? It won't come on, and is just making a whirring noise.' (She wanted DH to look for free of course, as people do!'

I said 'really Shirley? What kind of a man can't fix his own computer?!' She just looked like 😐then ... Then she said 'can he do it then?' I said 'no he is far too busy right now. You need to take it to someone else.' Cheeky mare.

I know how to clean, I have no idea how to plumb or plaster. Not sure why you think these things are the same 🙃there's nothing wrong with getting a cleaner though. Lots of people earn a good living out of it.

This. Plus obviously anyone with a cleaner is lazy and likes to waste money 🤷‍♀️

I don't get it either. It's just a service like anything else -how is it different to paying someone to do anything of the following:

Paint your house
Mow your lawn
Cut your hair
Cook your pizza/kebab
Wash your windows

Etc etc...

It's just a service!

Everyone has the skills to clean their own house, but not plumbing or electrics.
Thats why.

I have cleaner, as both myself and DH work full time. She comes every other week for 2 hours. It's the best £30 I spend. I do obviously do bits in between, but it's nice to know every 2 weeks, my whole house gets a vacuum, mop, kitchen and bathroom get a full clean. I'd love her to come weekly, to be honest. I don't care what anyone thinks, I'm not giving her up!

everyone I know has a cleaner

EVERYONE you know has a cleaner? You know your cleaner: do they have a cleaner?

I'm not judging anyone for having a cleaner (we do!) but I think you need to widen your circle of acquaintances!

Well of course I wouldn’t do plumbing or plastering as they actually require training etc.

This! One can’t make this kind of comment without considering that the vast majority of people cleaning their own houses will be women!

I know only a couple of people who have a cleaner, most people I know do not have a cleaner. I don't hold any judgement to having a cleaner. If you can afford it, want it and makes your life easier, why not.

However, I think YOU are bizarre and ridiculous to compare a cleaner to a plumber. You don't need a qualification to clean.

You need qualifications to do major plumbing but theres a lot people can do themselves but choose not to.

I do get why it annoys you but the plumbing / plastering thing really isn't a good comparison- anyone can clean but obviously plumbing etc you need qualifications. I had a cleaner but she was crap so now dh takes the toddler out once every few weeks and I do indeed 'clean my own house'. I much prefer it this way! I understand it's not possible for everyone but I can see why it's sometimes suggested.

No it’s not benefit fraud it’s absolutely fine to use pip for any services that help a disabled person

Ignore, obviously doesn’t understand what PIP is intended to pay for.

Wait until she hears that some people use Motability payments to buy a new car! Shocking stuff 😱