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Original poster

How do you afford a housekeeper?

107 replies

SouperNoodle · 27/03/2022 23:35

I guess this is aimed at families like mine that have a good income but are by no means raking in the cash.

DH and I spend our lives working. With his job and me raising the kids and the constant cleaning and tidying, we're just shattered and getting more and more frustrated that we don't have much down time.
I genuinely think that if we had a housekeeper then half our work would be outsourced so we'd get more time together/relaxing with the kids and life would be that bit easier.

So if you have one, how do you afford it? Roughly how much does it cost you?
Is it worth it?
I wouldn't want a live in housekeeper so I'm aware it would be a bit more expensive.

I honestly don't know where to start.
(Fuck the daily mail)

OP posts:
TheDuchessOfBeddington · 27/03/2022 23:41

Depends what you mean by housekeeper OP.

This could be someone that comes twice a week for £30 per time, or a proper full time housekeeper. Big difference in cost!

breakdown19 · 27/03/2022 23:42

How old are your kids?

Original poster
SouperNoodle · 27/03/2022 23:43

We're thinking someone who comes 4 days a week for the full day.
We'd preferably hire one that as well as cleaning, does laundry and changes beds.

OP posts:
Original poster
SouperNoodle · 27/03/2022 23:44

@breakdown19

How old are your kids?
I'm in my 30s and DH in his 40s. We have 2 kids, 2.5 and 4
OP posts:
TheDuchessOfBeddington · 27/03/2022 23:46

There is however an an other difference between a cleaner and a housekeeper. A cleaner would mean everything tidy and in order so they can just clean. A housekeeper would do more organisational stuff for you which it sounds more like you need.

I used to clean for a neighbour when I was a teenager. I would also tidy, do laundry, wash dishes etc, pick up the kids from school, give them dinner etc etc etc. loved that part time job and felt so appreciated for everything I did for them.

Fretfulmum · 27/03/2022 23:46

It really depends what you mean by a “good income.” We have a housekeeper and she is worth her weight in gold as it allows DH and I to be fully present at home in our non working time.
You need to look at all your outgoings and your household income and work out if it’s something you can afford with your disposable income. Our housekeeper does all the cleaning, laundry, household errands, and cooks a few times per week meaning we only cook at weekends.
We have a nanny for the kids who does their clothes buying, booking entertainment etc. however, there are still errands only you or DH can do eg buying a personal gift for a family/friend etc.

I would contact local agencies in your area to enquire about rates of pay as I’m sure it’s dependant on the area you live in. They should also be very helpful and let you know the duties they are expected to undertake and not undertake.

Chatwin · 27/03/2022 23:47

Do you work OP? Do you want someone who does more than cleaning/laundry etc? What else do you want to outsource?

MobLife · 27/03/2022 23:48

Do you have £13.8k to spare?

forcedfun · 27/03/2022 23:50

I have a home help (rather than just a cleaner) so not quite a house keeper but she does laundry, sorting chaos, making beds etc as well as cleaning. Far more useful than just a cleaner when we are both busy.

Delphigirl · 27/03/2022 23:50

I have 4 kids, a full on full time job, a dh who works full time, a vast house and 2 dogs and I’ve always had a housekeeper 5 days a week, but only half days 5 hours/day). To occupy her for 4 full days she would have also to be cooking as well as doing all cleaning, all laundry and all beds. Do you really need to go from zero to 4 full days? I would be very surprised.

forcedfun · 27/03/2022 23:52

She isn't full time, about 6 hours a week. We have a 5 bed house and I reckon it would take 10-15 hours/week if she was going to do nearly all the housework

Delphigirl · 27/03/2022 23:52

Oh and £12.25ph gross here but not in London. Fully taxed and pensioned obv

Aphantasia · 27/03/2022 23:52

I’m really interested in this too OP, we earn well, but I still don’t feel like we’re in the bracket that can afford to have a housekeeper but I do wonder if that’s just a hang up from my and my DH’s upbringing and actually are there other families on the same income who just do it and take it for granted that it’s affordable on the money they’re on. At point is it affordable? Joint income 100k? 150k? 200k? I know it depends on outgoings…

forcedfun · 27/03/2022 23:53

X post with @Delphigirl but I think we are agreeing - also have 4 kids, dogs, both work full time. I don't think I could occupy a full time house keeper unless they were also doing a lot of the shopping and cooking?

FusionChefGeoff · 27/03/2022 23:58

I was looking on childcare.co.uk recently and noticed they had a Housekeeper option so you could sign up for an account and it gives you average rates of pay for roles in your area.

We've got a cleaner but over the years we've upped her hours and responsibility so she does ironing / beds / bit of laundry but she only does 3 hours a week! I'm always trying to get more but she's too busy.

So you could try finding a cleaner if that's easier but then talk to them about how interested they are about expanding the role.

ThatsNotItAtAll · 27/03/2022 23:59

Don't forget that if you employ someone (as four full days per week would be) rather than paying a self employed cleaner, you need to factor in employer's NI, pension contributions, sick and holiday pay, liability insurance etc. Its unlikely that's affordable on a good but not spectacular salary (especially if as you seem to imply only one of you is earning).

It would probably be more realistic to pay a self employed cleaner - they won't do "mental load" but can do laundry and ironing and changing beds and even tidying if you agree that from the start and pay for extra hours.

FusionChefGeoff · 28/03/2022 00:00

Ps she is £14 an hour and I agree you wouldn't need a full day x 4 - maybe more like 4hrs x 4 so say £15 an hour = £960 a month. Not cheap!!!

Original poster
SouperNoodle · 28/03/2022 00:03

To answer a few questions, I don't work but am currently in talks with a potential employer for a start date of when my eldest starts school on September.

4 days is just a guess. I have a cleaner come once a fortnight currently to do the big jobs (floors and such) but with having toddlers it isn't long before everything needs doing again.

I live in a large 5 bed detached house so there is a lot to do. On the surface the house looks clean and tidy but the hidden areas like cupboards/My wardrobes/store room and basement are piled high with crap.

We currently have an income of approx. £80k-£90k (it varies yearly with DH's job but always in this bracket). The job I may be taking would add roughly £20k onto that.
We live up north so we live a better lifestyle than we would be able to down south with our income.

Having someone to pick up kids/cook meals as well as do cleaning and laundry would be an absolute dream but I wasn't sure if I was asking too much.

OP posts:
forcedfun · 28/03/2022 00:06

If you are working and the children are at school/nursery you will probably find the amount of housework reduces a lot - fewer meals and activities to clean up for instance

Original poster
SouperNoodle · 28/03/2022 00:07

Also, our outgoings are shocking atm but that's mainly my fault and if it came down to it, I could shrink it down quite significantly.
It's not like I'm throwing money at nothing, these things are important but I think a housekeeper would be a higher priority in my eyes.

OP posts:
ThatsNotItAtAll · 28/03/2022 00:07

SouperNoodle a housekeeper four full days per week year 'round would cost at least 20k once you factor in paying four weeks holiday and employer's national insurance contribution and pension contributions and additional insurance.

forcedfun · 28/03/2022 00:11

For storage chaos I have seen decluttering/organisation services and have been tempted by these and wonder if that is more something you could pay for a few times a year?
(Not trying to talk you out of a housekeeper, my mum and granny both had a housekeeper and they were amazing there was always fresh baking and everything ran like clockwork)

Original poster
SouperNoodle · 28/03/2022 00:11

@ThatsNotItAtAll

SouperNoodle a housekeeper four full days per week year 'round would cost at least 20k once you factor in paying four weeks holiday and employer's national insurance contribution and pension contributions and additional insurance.
I had a feeling it would be something in that bracket. From reading other pp's comments, I think I was being unreasonable with 4 full days. Maybe 4 mornings? I'm not too sure as I've never had a housekeeper before. I've had cleaners for about 6 years but they've always been once a week/fortnight.
OP posts:
Sofasogood1 · 28/03/2022 00:13

Oh wow surely no one can afford a 4day a week housekeeper on just £100k? If they can please tell me how! Which I guess is your point op Grin

londonmummy1966 · 28/03/2022 00:13

London £13 ph net (so she has that in her pocket and I pay tax NI and pension on top). Now that DC aren't home much she does 3 -4 half days a week. She does all cleaning, beds, laundry, ironing etc. I expect her to be a self starter so if she sees something needs doing she does it (eg if she spots a button is off when ironing she replaces it before putting item away etc) I'll get the food delivery to arrive when she is here so she can check it, unpack, put away and also double check there's nothing in the fridge about to go off. She also has a rota of ongoing jobs that need doing periodically eg cleaning out cupboards. Before I had this housekeeper I had a nanny housekeeper 5 half days a week from 1 -6 pm. She would do all the above plus collect DC from school if necessary, cook for them if I had something else to do (and make enough for me and DH too), got school uniform/sports kit etc ready for the next morning. By the time DC were 5 & 7 I could leave one doing reading whilst she ironed and I supervised music practice with the other. I don't think I would have survived without her as DH was constantly abroad for work.