to tell those that call me lazy to piss off.

[tookoolforskool]

because i did the shocking thing of hiring a gardener for all of 2 hours to dig over and weed my borders for me.

Im a lone parent. DDs dad is away at the momment, so im not getting any break.
i work 20hours
I have a dog.
I have to do everything, by myself all the time.
All the housework, all the shopping, all the errands, all the organising. everything.

two weeks ago i pressure washed my patio to within a inch of its life. i hacked back the shurbs and weeded and sorted out the herb garden bit. This weekend i painted all my fence. All 22 fence pannels. i still have the garage to do, but am waiting for paint from the landlord.

My garden is quite new, its a rented house and it was a barren wasteland when i moved in two years ago. there were no borders, i had them cut in. Its just because im constantly seeding the grass.. it goes in the borders, and the weeds... its a big job.

So i paid £30 for someone to do it for me, to clear the weeds, tidy it up and turn it all over, so all i have to do is plant veg/bedding plants.

You would not belive the amount of stick i have had from people calling me lazy and taking the piss, or asking who i think i am.

AIBU to tell them to fuck off.

i think i deserve a gardener.
i am a lone parent and work 37hrs per week, have 2 dc and a horse, amongst 8 other pets.
I do everything myself too.

i doubt i would be called lazy but im sure my family would think i have money to fritter away!

someone actually asked who you think you are?

Why are you even asking? You work, you pay someone to do something that would be time consuming and that many people just DONT enjoy.Of course YANBU

Were those people older generation? My parents always do this 'why pay someone' .

Does anyone remember 'Godness Gracious Me'? There was an episode where the miserable mother was saying 'why buy pizza? I can make a better one. Why buy popcorn? I can make it at home'. I remember next day at work we were all saying 'ah she was like my mum'

YANBU nor do you have to justify it to anyone. You sound like superwoman tbh :) so maybe there is a bit of jealousy going on at the school gates?

Oh that is so funny! I also on Saturday had gardeners come in to overhaul our garden. 90 quid it cost me - 6 hours they were here and they also dug out flower beds and all that. I got some stick too from our neighbour who asked me why I was paying someone when i was perfectly able to do it myself?

i told him the truth. I didn't WANT to do it myself.

Sometimes it helps to just shrug and say 'But I don't want to'.

It is your business what you choose to do with your spare time and cash.

@ Laquitar ... 'all I need is a small aubergine!'

Oh yes, this was her line!

I'm intrigued that you got stick from people in RL, but so much support and agreement on MN. Wonder why that might be?

We have a gardener too. It's great. Nice man, enjoys working in the fresh air. I don't feel guilty.

Blimey, the parents at your school really don't have a lot to talk about if your hiring of a gardener is causing so much fuss!

I got alot of crap from my parents for hiring a gardener. They are keen gardeners, but they live too far from me to help out with mine. When i told my DF that I had a gardner to do the lawn etc, he said 'But it is not really your garden anymore'. He also claimed that i was 'boasting'. Not at all actually. It usually costs me £30 per month in the spring-summer-autumn time. In winter nothing happens. I echo what someone else said- £30 a month on takeaway no-one would bat an eyelid. £30 on hirng someone to do something you do not want to do- suddenly you are a pariah, and lazy. [shrug]

I'd pay someone to do my ironing if I could afford it, you are not lazy at all.

YANBU as long as he is fit and took his shirt off

I'm always amazed that people know people who give a shit about what you spend your money on. I justify nothing. But then I don't tell the whole world every detail of my life either.

You are not lazy at all - DH and I are going to get someone in to get our garden livable - it needs a lot of work - ripping out the entire back section, digging the borders, taking out and filling in the pond - will cost us a lot more than £30 but we have the money and want to get the garden into a state where we can maintain it, keep easy veg, have happy perennials and so on. It will be well worth it and if anyone calls me lazy I'll take that as a compliment .

YANBU - v sensible use of money, and prioritising your time!

I've been thinking of getting a gardener since last summer - I'm ok with mowing the lawn but I havent a clue about pruning, weeding, and all that stuff. I'd love to pay someone to go and buy plants and fill in my borders and tidy it all up. have been stopped so far by my general paranoia about being ripped off/overcharged (I really must get over this!). Will have to ask round my school mum friends, I am the only one who doesn't have a gardener amongst them

One day when my house is finished I will have a cleaner as well.

And maybe a lady to do my ironing......

YANBU at all.

We have a large-ish garden and DH works long hours at the moment, so no time for he or I to do it ourselves.

We have a friend setting up as a gardener and trying to support his family, so we agreed he could help out.

Whilst he works on the garden, I can get on and do the ironing. And it looks soooo much better out there now.

He does a much better job than the lazy so-and-so employed by my elderly neighbours, who basically lets his leaf-blower run for half an hour (in spring? really?) takes the money and runs.

Good for you.

YANBU. Gardening is bloody hard work and not all that fun IMO. I am all for throwing money at a chore!