to really want a cleaner?

[EvilEyeButterPie]

I suggested I get a cleaner (I even found one) a couple of months back, and the utter HORROR on both sides of the family made me reconsider.

Yes, I'm not well off, and yes, I am at home all day, but I work from home, and when I am not working, the kids are here. Plus I HATE cleaning. I do it, but I hate it. I've done it as a job and not hated it so much, it is the soul destroying never ended nature of cleaning my own house that I hate.

So, I can afford £20 a week, which would buy me two or three hours, what would that get me?

My MIL seemed to take it as a sign that I was "not coping" and my own mum signed and got all dramatic about if only SHE could afford a cleaner, she would give anything to have a cleaner...when she clearly is much better off than me and can afford a cleaner, she just doesn't see herself as the "type" to have a cleaner.

It would mean going without in lean months, but only to the extent that we would have to use up freezer food, not actually starve.

I've never paid anyone to do so much as babysit or plumb before though...how does it work?

Would it help me get on top of my house, or would it just be more stress?

If you are earning more per hour than you would be paying your cleaner, I would argue that it makes most economic sense for you have one! Your time = money and you should not be spending time or money on jobs which someone else could easily do for you. It's false economy.

Im about to go on maternity leave and DH keeps asking me if we should increase our cleaner's hours. He sees no reason why I should be wasting my valuable time cleaning the house when it could be better spent looking after baby, and looking after myself so that I can be the most relaxed and happy mother possible.

Our cleaner is provided by an agency, and she's been with us for 8 years or so now. We pay £10ph in central London

Generally speaking we outsource everything that can be done by someone who can do it faster, better or cheaper than we could. We only spend our time on things only we can do, or where it is faster better or cheaper to do it ourselves.

i think i may set up my own cleaning business after reading this thread, i love cleaning my home :) i have a little system. but i still pay someone to clean my oven once a month :)

back to the op, if you want a cleaner then have one i bet your families are just jealous.

Get a cleaner, i had a cleaner even when i was single. Pure bliss