AIBU to insist we restore the gardener's fortnightly visits?

JanefromSpain · 2026-06-24T21:31:13+00:00

Am I being unreasonable - last month my husband reduced how often the gardener comes from once per fortnight to once per month. Now the lawnmower has broken and the garden is getting completely out of control. Is it unreasonable to demand that we get the gardener back once a fortnight?

Gratin231 · 25/06/2026 23:25

If your joint income is genuinely £550k I’m struggling to see why this is an issue and also struggling to believe you’d only have had a fortnightly gardener in the first place.

out joint income is about £450. A twice weekly gardener is not an issue. It’s about £250 a week.

Ally886 · 25/06/2026 20:13

JanefromSpain · 24/06/2026 23:20

I can’t see how you can be on less than £20k? The minimum wage is around £45k now isn’t it?

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No you're way off, it's £26,400.

How can you be so clueless whilst also earning so much?

Also, if this was a man as the higher earner he would be told to pay for the gardener himself. Maybe that's the advice for you?

MonstrousRegimentRocks · 25/06/2026 14:34

JanefromSpain · 25/06/2026 13:03

She rode it over the wire

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She rode the gardener over the wire?
Easily done.
Why isn't she at boarding school? Don't have kids around

MonstrousRegimentRocks · 25/06/2026 14:33

JanefromSpain · 25/06/2026 13:05

Update: The cleaner just arrived early without her keys and disturbed him doing his lunchtime yoga. He’s now saying that he wants to sack her too. What should I do? Surely he’s really gone too far now!

Edited

Dear lord, don't deal with any of this, leave it to your Main Housekeeper. Why are you dealing directly with the staff?

FinallyHere · 25/06/2026 13:46

JanefromSpain · 25/06/2026 13:05

Update: The cleaner just arrived early without her keys and disturbed him doing his lunchtime yoga. He’s now saying that he wants to sack her too. What should I do? Surely he’s really gone too far now!

Edited

Same answer as before. Bin him off

Why would you react any other way?

saraclara · 25/06/2026 13:17

Now I'm annoyed with myself for taking part in this thread.

MellowZebra · 25/06/2026 13:16

🦈

Original poster

JanefromSpain · 25/06/2026 13:05

Update: The cleaner just arrived early without her keys and disturbed him doing his lunchtime yoga. He’s now saying that he wants to sack her too. What should I do? Surely he’s really gone too far now!

OP posts:

Original poster

JanefromSpain · 25/06/2026 13:04

Gratin231 · 25/06/2026 12:24

You say your joint income is £550

So your husband earns 200k and you earn £350k.

I’d prefer not to go into the detail of my personal finances on a public forum

OP posts:

Original poster

JanefromSpain · 25/06/2026 13:03

MonstrousRegimentRocks · 25/06/2026 12:14

Maybe she rode it over the gardener's toes.

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She rode it over the wire

OP posts:

Gratin231 · 25/06/2026 12:24

You say your joint income is £550

So your husband earns 200k and you earn £350k.

MonstrousRegimentRocks · 25/06/2026 12:14

Spottyvases · 25/06/2026 11:48

Plus - if your 'hubby' is on £200k a year, no finances are not feckin tight - ever. Even when you're theoretically on maternity leave.

How did your daughter break a lawn mower?

It's all a bit complicated for me to follow

Maybe she rode it over the gardener's toes.

WeAintNoArgentina · 25/06/2026 11:49

Min wage on a 40 hour week if he's over 19 is £26436.80 @JanefromSpain

saraclara · 25/06/2026 11:49

JanefromSpain · 24/06/2026 23:20

I can’t see how you can be on less than £20k? The minimum wage is around £45k now isn’t it?

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I checked. You couldn't be more wrong about minimum wage

AIBU to insist we restore the gardener's fortnightly visits?

Spottyvases · 25/06/2026 11:48

Plus - if your 'hubby' is on £200k a year, no finances are not feckin tight - ever. Even when you're theoretically on maternity leave.

How did your daughter break a lawn mower?

It's all a bit complicated for me to follow

Spottyvases · 25/06/2026 11:45

JanefromSpain · 24/06/2026 23:20

I can’t see how you can be on less than £20k? The minimum wage is around £45k now isn’t it?

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😂😂😂

Crikey o'riley - love it!

How the other half imagine things live

Stella1366 · 25/06/2026 11:37

JanefromSpain · 24/06/2026 23:18

Finances are ok but I am on maternity leave so they are a bit tighter at the moment.
I have access to my own money but my husband has always dealt with the gardener.
He says £100 per month is too much and that he can do it once per month himself. But then our daughter broke the lawnmower and he hasn’t been able to.
Now the garden is getting overgrown and it’s making me very upset.

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Besides the point I know but how did your daughter break the mower. Shouldn't she get it sorted (and finish mowing the lawn)

To the point YANBU.

FinallyHere · 25/06/2026 11:33

We have only one rule for anyone claiming a service isn’t worth it … they get to do it themselves to at lease the same standard.

Simples Let him crack on.

InWithPeaceOutWithStress · 25/06/2026 11:29

MonstrousRegimentRocks · 25/06/2026 10:55

LTB

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🤣

TeaSet · 25/06/2026 11:02

JanefromSpain · 24/06/2026 23:10

He’s on about £200k so he can bloody afford it IMO. He seems to think it’s the principle of the thing! The man’s a lunatic and my hedges are getting out of control!

Edited

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You shouldn't be cutting hedges now. It's bird nesting season.

TeaSet · 25/06/2026 11:01

JanefromSpain · 24/06/2026 23:20

I can’t see how you can be on less than £20k? The minimum wage is around £45k now isn’t it?

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Perhaps she works part time.

MonstrousRegimentRocks · 25/06/2026 10:58

Pasithean · 25/06/2026 10:40

“ let them eat cake. “.

our lawnmower cost thousands. Yeah hang on I’ll just get another.

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Mine was from B&Q and cost £89.
Mind you, I have a very modest lawn and no lake to worry about.

MonstrousRegimentRocks · 25/06/2026 10:55

JanefromSpain · 24/06/2026 23:18

Finances are ok but I am on maternity leave so they are a bit tighter at the moment.
I have access to my own money but my husband has always dealt with the gardener.
He says £100 per month is too much and that he can do it once per month himself. But then our daughter broke the lawnmower and he hasn’t been able to.
Now the garden is getting overgrown and it’s making me very upset.

Show quote history

LTB

MonstrousRegimentRocks · 25/06/2026 10:54

MellowZebra · 25/06/2026 10:18

The lawns aren’t that big but I’d be worried about it ending up in the lake or getting in the stables

Mmm.

Couldn't she get the horses to eat it?

Pasithean · 25/06/2026 10:40

Starzinsky · 24/06/2026 22:57

Buy a new lawnmower and mow the lawn. That's what normal people do when theirs breaks.

“ let them eat cake. “.

our lawnmower cost thousands. Yeah hang on I’ll just get another.