Page 2 | To ask if you’re a higher earner, what do you outsource to give you more time?

butterpears · 2024-09-01T07:59:17+00:00

I have the opportunity to take on more consultancy work, which is quite lucrative as I am in a very specific field. I have done a smaller amount of this in the past. If I do it I will realistically need to outsource as much as possible to free up time. The costs of this would be more than worth it in terms of what I can earn. My thoughts so far are to get a cleaner (we had one in the past but not recently), get my hair blowdried once a week (I have difficult hair that takes ages). My DH does most of the cooking and food shopping, I do most of the laundry and life admin. I’m struggling to think of more that I could outsource because I tend to have a fairly frugal mindset. What do you outsource if you can use the freed up time to bring in more money?

Ponoka7 · 01/09/2024 14:24

If you earn more than what you'd pay people to do cleaning/decorating/gardening that it makes sense to get people in. Even if you earn similar to decorators, unless you are really good, get them in. You are providing work. The two older retired men, who I call, the gardeners, rely on the £100 a week extra they pull in, it's only April to October, but it means they heat their homes over winter and have a good Christmas.

Bignanna · 01/09/2024 14:18

SecondFavouriteDinosaur · 01/09/2024 13:57

I thought everyone had a window cleaner!

They’re called husbands!

Original poster

butterpears · 01/09/2024 14:14

sunseaandsoundingoff · 01/09/2024 14:00

If it's not personal info (or that can be worked around, e.g. generic intro paragraphs or you can replace names/personal details) then AI will do that for you easily, even across multiple docs/sources. Dictating went out a long time ago.

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Things have probably moved on since I last did this. What specific AI tools do I need to look at? Thank you.

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sunseaandsoundingoff · 01/09/2024 14:05

There are various virtual PA services that will do your life admin for you, arrange workmen, manage your emails etc.

I would also consider trimming time off the weekly shop if it's done in person, as all that is a mega time killer. I have a weekly and monthly list so most of it is automatically delivered, especially non-perishables and household goods. And then we get a farm delivery box service (local one) for the good stuff, way better than supermarkets and no queuing.

Decluttering is also a huge timesaver as every single item in your home requires cleaning, maintenance, moving around etc.

I've always wanted a personal media assistant, so someone who has a list of all the books, actors, shows, types of entertainment etc I like and has the books and movies and shows and real-life performances lined up for me so I don't miss anything but don't have to look myself (and picks out more things they think I'd like). Like a personal shopper but for culture.

sunseaandsoundingoff · 01/09/2024 14:00

butterpears · 01/09/2024 13:49

I love how AI is now making the list! I am picturing the household robots I thought would be in my house when I grew up. I guess we’re not far off.

One work- related piece of outsourcing I need to look into for consulting is for report writing, as I have to produce fairly lengthy reports where I have to sit at the computer and reference multiple other documents. I am thinking about trying to dictate some of my reports. I have had mixed results with dictating to software but thought about asking someone to type it up for me. I have dictated some reports in a previous role and found it easier than sitting looking at a screen for hours. Had anyone done this?

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If it's not personal info (or that can be worked around, e.g. generic intro paragraphs or you can replace names/personal details) then AI will do that for you easily, even across multiple docs/sources. Dictating went out a long time ago.

Durdledore · 01/09/2024 13:58

CherryBlossomFestival · 01/09/2024 13:29

She is! I pay well over London living wage, but make sure that we have a proper conversation regularly and am very flexible about when she works each week, in return.

Edited

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I would love this person in my life. Sort of like a house partner or something! You’re really very lucky. 🥰

SecondFavouriteDinosaur · 01/09/2024 13:57

I thought everyone had a window cleaner!

worriedgal · 01/09/2024 13:55

Oh and a really good one I've found is ordering lots of cards from Whistlefish when they have a sale on and then we're never short of a birthday,thank you card etc.
I'm amazed how helpful it is to always have a stock in .
Also I only send presents now from online companies directly to the recipient so no post office faff .
Alerts for a few days before each event and a couple of minutes online and so much time saved .

OnarealhorseIride · 01/09/2024 13:54

Window cleaner

OnarealhorseIride · 01/09/2024 13:53

Cleaner, click and collect shopping, not beating my self up about buying in help with horse when needed. Car valet clean, house painting.

probster · 01/09/2024 13:51

oh i found a IFA so helpful when it came to life, health and CI cover

worriedgal · 01/09/2024 13:51

We use as needed

Laundry- try Laundryheap if they are near you,collect one day and return the next ,can do dry cleaning too.

Gardener

Cleaners weekly

Car valeting service as needed

Ocado

Window cleaning service

Handy man/ woman locally

'Cook 'frozen meals in freezer for emergency food

Caterers for events at home

Home beautician and massage services- urban app

Original poster

butterpears · 01/09/2024 13:49

Geneticsbunny · 01/09/2024 13:45

If you can't afford a pa then theoretically you could train your own ai and ask a housekeeper to photograph all documents coming into the house and get the ai to automatically add appointments to your calendar or make a calendar event to do deal with whatever the letter is about. The only issue it that it will take some input to train the AI in the first place.

I love how AI is now making the list! I am picturing the household robots I thought would be in my house when I grew up. I guess we’re not far off.

One work- related piece of outsourcing I need to look into for consulting is for report writing, as I have to produce fairly lengthy reports where I have to sit at the computer and reference multiple other documents. I am thinking about trying to dictate some of my reports. I have had mixed results with dictating to software but thought about asking someone to type it up for me. I have dictated some reports in a previous role and found it easier than sitting looking at a screen for hours. Had anyone done this?

OP posts:

SecondFavouriteDinosaur · 01/09/2024 13:48

probster · 01/09/2024 13:46

rolling my eyes isn’t getting my knickers in a twist! 😆

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Posting about it disparagingly multiple times is, though.

probster · 01/09/2024 13:46

SecondFavouriteDinosaur · 01/09/2024 13:45

’Life admin’ is just a way of describing something. Hardly worth getting your knickers in a twist about.

Edited

rolling my eyes isn’t getting my knickers in a twist! 😆

probster · 01/09/2024 13:46

cleaner, gardener, car valet, seamstress and i have never painted a room in my life!

SecondFavouriteDinosaur · 01/09/2024 13:45

’Life admin’ is just a way of describing something. Hardly worth getting your knickers in a twist about.

Geneticsbunny · 01/09/2024 13:45

If you can't afford a pa then theoretically you could train your own ai and ask a housekeeper to photograph all documents coming into the house and get the ai to automatically add appointments to your calendar or make a calendar event to do deal with whatever the letter is about. The only issue it that it will take some input to train the AI in the first place.

probster · 01/09/2024 13:44

butterpears · 01/09/2024 13:24

Apologies if that came across mean. It was a direct reply to a poster who really was being mean and said life admin doesn’t exist and just get a cleaner. I would never boast about income and have experience of having literally no money. Part of my issue with outsourcing is that I have a fairly frugal mindset due to past experiences so I feel like I should save money where I can. But that isn’t freeing me up to earn more. That’s why I’m looking for ideas so I can do things differently.

I genuinely appreciate any and all suggestions and agree that outsourcing is also about paying for others to do things you don’t want to spend time on even if not on a high income.

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i never said life admin doesn’t exist!!!

i am a single working parent of two children (tweens and one ND)

i rolled my eyes at the expression “life admin”

Original poster

butterpears · 01/09/2024 13:44

Bemusedandconfusedagain · 01/09/2024 13:35

I'm in outer London and all my outsourcing costs around £1800 a month. I can earn much more extra than that by having the outsourcing. Frankly I'd rather do more hours in the career I chose than housework so it suits me very well. It's also nice not having any arguments at home about who does what as it is all done by someone who is fairly remunerated for their chosen work.

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Thanks that’s really helpful. I am trying to shift more into that mindset. I recently painted my study, as it is something I can easily do myself but I am slow at it. I could have paid someone and earned way more in that time by doing my own work. I seem to be in a slightly “lack” mindset. I have turned down work in the past because I don’t want to be overloaded but then I’m spending time cleaning and changing bedsheets and walking to collect prescriptions etc.

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Icanwalkintheroom · 01/09/2024 13:43

Cleaning, meal prep/shopping (when the dc were small we had a housekeeper, now we just use delivery services, Gousto & Cook), gardening, excellent childcare & back up childcare. Ironing / laundry.

probster · 01/09/2024 13:42

Sandytoesandcrabs · 01/09/2024 12:41

I have a friend who comes 2 days a week and she does:

Tidying, organising, decluttering, creating systems (ie files for paperwork, different baskets for cleaning, make up organisers etc) and doing things like cleaning, organising and reminding whats going out of date in the fridge and creates shopping lists of what’s running low (and reminds me to stop buying certain condiments I have 17 of) she manages all the laundry and bedding and makes sure things match like we have a grey bathroom set and a white one and she swaps them over this is my fave it’s like being in a hotel) put clothes away and organises the closets and drawers. She files all the paperwork away and leaves out nothing urgent for me. Does the dishwashers, mops the floors and wipes the sides etc. She loves all this sort of stuff and has 3 under 5 so it works really well for us.

I have a gardener, a tree trimmer man, a valet and used to use a driver / chauffeur for airports and concerts and big nights out and task rabbit app for building furniture and odd jobs but I am married now and he is v handy so don’t need that any more.

Before I had my friend I used a laundry service including a service where you drop the suitcases off from holiday and they clean and fold and return it in the right cases, that was so good!

I have a cleaner come in to deep clean sometimes. A daily dog walker.

I have my own business and have a Virtual Assistant who is my PA and she does some personal stuff for me like booking appointments, buying regular things like contacts and foundation, manages my personal email and fills out forms and things for me. She reminds me about things in my diary that are personal as well as business. She books all my day to day travel biz and personal.

I have a travel consultant who books all our travel and checks us in etc. She has been doing this for so many years now I just let her make a couple of suggestions within budget and pick one.

I’ve got 2 teenagers of my own and they do their own rooms and laundry and have done since high school. I have two step children who don’t but they’re not here full time. Am working on it!

I invest in things that give me headspace eg a digital door entry so I don’t have to find my keys or worry about who needs to get in, have subscriptions to every TV package, subscribe and save int things we use regularly like toilet roll and cleaning and hygiene products. So we never run out of anything and I don’t have a mental to buy list going on.

I pay for 121 coaching in my sport and have top package at the gym so I can go to anything anyone to suit and have a PT.

Basically I am ruthless about outsourcing anything and everything I can so I can focus on two things - growing my business and spending time with my family - and do things for me too!

the friend who does your laundry, admin and cleaning… do you socialise with her? go out for coffees?

genuinely curious as i can’t imagine a friend doing all this for me

i have a cleaner and i like her very much
i have known her for more than a decade
but a “friend” ? no

Bemusedandconfusedagain · 01/09/2024 13:35

butterpears · 01/09/2024 13:15

Thanks. These are incredibly helpful examples. If I take on extra consultancy it would bring in another about £3700 per month after tax, similar to what I currently earn after tax so I can effectively double my take home pay. But realistically I will have less time to do other things and I’m trying to think about what I can afford to let go of, while still making it worth my while.

Do you mind me asking, if your bonus covers the outsourcing roughly what figure that is?

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I'm in outer London and all my outsourcing costs around £1800 a month. I can earn much more extra than that by having the outsourcing. Frankly I'd rather do more hours in the career I chose than housework so it suits me very well. It's also nice not having any arguments at home about who does what as it is all done by someone who is fairly remunerated for their chosen work.

CherryBlossomFestival · 01/09/2024 13:29

Durdledore · 01/09/2024 11:09

This woman needs a different job title! She sounds amazing. 🤩

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She is! I pay well over London living wage, but make sure that we have a proper conversation regularly and am very flexible about when she works each week, in return.

Original poster

butterpears · 01/09/2024 13:24

BlueMum16 · 01/09/2024 11:17

You don't have to be a high earner to pay others to do tasks. It's about having money to pay someone for something you feel worthwhile them doing to free up your time.

Are you stealth boasting or just being mean ?

I have someone to cut the grass. This leaves us to do some gardening as a leisure activity but keeps it looking tidy.

I have teenagers who are learning to do their own life admin. You need to look at what you are doing and see if it can be done differently (a lot can be planned for and not instant except medical stuff). Put aside an hour to do this rather than try and do it as and when.

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Apologies if that came across mean. It was a direct reply to a poster who really was being mean and said life admin doesn’t exist and just get a cleaner. I would never boast about income and have experience of having literally no money. Part of my issue with outsourcing is that I have a fairly frugal mindset due to past experiences so I feel like I should save money where I can. But that isn’t freeing me up to earn more. That’s why I’m looking for ideas so I can do things differently.

I genuinely appreciate any and all suggestions and agree that outsourcing is also about paying for others to do things you don’t want to spend time on even if not on a high income.

OP posts: