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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:
Notcontent · 28/03/2022 12:24

@Sofasogood1

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
That’s exactly what I was thinking! My income is around that (although in London so outgoings are high) and there is no way way I could afford a housekeeper even though it would be life changing for me as I am a lone parent.

I do know people who have housekeepers but they are more in the 500k plus income bracket.

Allaboutmarypoppins · 28/03/2022 12:46

I have name changed. Our housekeeper is with us for 5 hours per day, Monday to Saturday with extra hours as needed. We use a payroll company to deal with payroll and pension admin. She does all the normal cleaning type things, laundry, ironing, changing beds, putting away groceries and sorting the fridge, deals with deliveries and any tradespeople if we’re not around. Basically she keeps us all sane. We don’t need her to cook although she does prepare party food for our DD when she has a party at the house and also babysits when needed. I would agree with the above that it would be difficult to pay for that level of commitment on your income - it will cost £20/25k p.a plus all the admin costs.

3WildOnes · 28/03/2022 14:15

I was think that there is no way you could afford a house keeper on that salary but we do pay for private school fees on a similar salary so I guess it is possible.

Wintersbone · 28/03/2022 14:56

It's all relative. When I went back to work we went from me making 0 to 175k. The housekeeper costs us under 12k per year. It was a no brainer really!

TheHoptimist · 28/03/2022 15:37

Its a housekeep on mumsent- tin th real world what people have is a part time (very part time) mothers help/cleaner

People are not paying £60k for a housekeeper. They just want to sound posh (but end up sounding like idiots)

deadlanguage · 28/03/2022 16:19

I agree a more frequent cleaner may be a good option. Ours will do bed linen, laundry, ironing and even washing up on request/if time allows. If your current one won't do that then you could look for an alternative or even an additional one.

Trytryandtryagain11 · 28/03/2022 16:19

We're around double the income (again in the midlands) and it would never have crossed my mind we could afford a housekeeper! I think it's all relative though, I suppose we 'could' but would probably put that money towards private schools etc. as a priority and I don't think both would be feasible without really stripping back lifestyle.

NeedleNoodle3 · 28/03/2022 16:50

I’ve known a couple of friends to get one when they stopped needing and paying for a full time nanny.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 28/03/2022 17:00

My parents have someone I'd call a housekeeper rather than a cleaner. She's brilliant. She does the beds, cleans the fridges and oven, mows the lawn when it needs doing. She did shopping for them during lockdown, she does the windows she can reach, she'll take curtains down to be washed too as well as all the washing and ironing. She does 9 hours a week iirc.

Original poster
SouperNoodle · 28/03/2022 17:56

Thank you so much for all the helpful suggestions. I'll definitely look into upping the hours for my cleaner and ask what other services they provide.

For those saying they don't think I need a housekeeper as I don't work, my question was 'How do people afford it?' not 'Do you think I need one?' But thanks anyway

OP posts:
TheHoptimist · 28/03/2022 21:00

A housekeeper manages all of the household finances/bills
Buys all food and household goods
Manages the cleaner and gardener (who are not the same person as the housekeeper)

yodaforpresident · 28/03/2022 21:22

To be honest that sounds more like some of what would be expected from a house manager or a head housekeeper. The cook should be ordering the food - if you have a house staff that large anyway.

A580Hojas · 28/03/2022 21:24

@Wintersbone

It's all relative. When I went back to work we went from me making 0 to 175k. The housekeeper costs us under 12k per year. It was a no brainer really!
Oooooh medal for you!
LuckyKitty13 · 28/03/2022 21:29

So we have “a cleaner” but she is more like a house keeper - we pay her hourly through a local small business, and she does anything we need doing during that time. She does all the laundry - folds and puts it all away (all drawers are all labelled in case we have a substitute!), changes beds, unloads dishwasher, tidies, washes up stuff that’s left out, plus all the usually cleaning etc. we get by on once a week, but I am considering upping that to twice a week. We pay £12/hour which feels very cheap!

Wintersbone · 28/03/2022 21:30

@A580Hojas there's always one...the OP asked how much people make who have a housekeeper. I answered the question. Hmm

Crankley · 28/03/2022 21:36

There's currently a post on my Next Door looking for a housekeeper - 35 hours a week, Monday to Friday, paying £30,000.

NrlySp · 28/03/2022 21:39

Having read your posts my thoughts are:
Cleaner once a week
Pay for an extra deep clean 1-2 times a year
Have a big declutter or pay for a progressional declutter/marie kondo Person to come to your place so it’s all easier to keep on top of.
Look into cost of ready made healthy meals or maybe a mum in the village who wants to make some extra money on the side.
Cheaper than a housekeeper.

mindutopia · 28/03/2022 21:40

Dh and I make collectively more than you do, probably around £150K. I definitely don't think we are in house staff territory.

Realistically though, with a 2 and a 4 year old, they can go to nursery part of the week and you can get stuff done. Lots of people work FT with small children and they manage. A cleaner once a week though is great, but it takes minutes day to do the dishes, put washing in, tidy up with two fully engaged parents. And it doesn't cost anything. I'd find ways for you both to make more time available and get a cleaner for a little bit more time.

blueshoes · 28/03/2022 21:42

@yodaforpresident

To be honest that sounds more like some of what would be expected from a house manager or a head housekeeper. The cook should be ordering the food - if you have a house staff that large anyway.
Some Russian oligarch's ex-staff might be looking for work ...
Original poster
SouperNoodle · 28/03/2022 21:43

@LuckyKitty13

So we have “a cleaner” but she is more like a house keeper - we pay her hourly through a local small business, and she does anything we need doing during that time. She does all the laundry - folds and puts it all away (all drawers are all labelled in case we have a substitute!), changes beds, unloads dishwasher, tidies, washes up stuff that’s left out, plus all the usually cleaning etc. we get by on once a week, but I am considering upping that to twice a week. We pay £12/hour which feels very cheap!
Omg that's amazing and so cheap! Our cleaner is £15ph and does the cleaning only.
OP posts:
blueshoes · 28/03/2022 21:49

I am not sure if I could stand to have someone in the house for that amount of time and I used to have aupairs live in with us full time.

You should not underestimate the time needed to 'manage staff'. I know it is a wanky term but having to teach aupairs where everything is and schedules etc meant that whilst I able to get rid of some tasks, I ended up with others I did not use to do. So it is not 100% delegation but more 70% and the aggro that comes with managing someone else. Cleaners are a bit different because their job is quite standalone and discrete. If you want the housekeeper to help with some childcare and life admin, then it gets trickier.

I am sure people who manage others in the workplace know what I mean. It is not perfect - people come with personalities, strengths, weakness, communication, people needing time off or going sick. It can be more trouble than it is worth.

Of course, if you do find the right person, it is life changing Smile

Jinglebellsoncake · 28/03/2022 21:54

Where can I find a housekeeper?!

myadhdusername · 28/03/2022 21:56

@ittakes2 I have ADHD too and struggle so much with everything.

Are you able to share roughly how much you pay her please? Does she come every day?

That's what I need. Not a self employed cleaner wanting £20 hour! That's two hours net pay for me Confused

thebabynanny · 28/03/2022 22:03

A friend of mine is a housekeeper and she is on £35k with a car and a 2 bed cottage.

Samanabanana · 28/03/2022 22:05

Do you pay for childcare atm op? Will you when you return to work? Full time childcare (I'm also in the north) is approx £1200/month per child. So that needs factoring in to your outgoings. I think you probably more likely need a cleaner who will take on a bit more for you rather than a full blown housekeeper. 2 hours a day Monday to Friday sort of thing. That way you can have tidying/linen changed/windows cleaned/washing done etc.? And just have everything done on a rota so all big and little jobs done in turn