To think about getting a cleaner?

[manicinsomniac]

I am a single parent of two children under 10 and I work anything from 60 to 85 hours a week. I don't have any formal or regular help with childcare

Until recently we lived in a tiny little cottage that a) didn't have much space to clean anyway and b) was so old and rickety that it was never really going to look clean whatever you did.

In August we moved to a newish 3 bed property which I am incredibly pleased and grateful for BUT it's so much harder to keep on top of. I keep the house tidy but it could without a doubt be cleaner (hoovering is something that happens when we;re having visitors for example!)

Having a cleaner just once a week would make such a difference but we certainly don't have loads of money. We have everything we need and I could afford the cleaner but it would be a bit of a stretch.

And more importantly I'd feel really icky and lazy that I was letting someone else clean up our mess.

So, given that I am able bodied and not rich WIBU to get a cleaner? (I kind of already know I would ...)

Thanks. I hadn't thought about the boosting the economy angle really.

I don't know why I thought it would be undreaosnable exactly. It's just that there is nothing physically stopping me doing it myself and I don't usually spend money unnecessarily. Plus, on however small a scale, I don't know if I feel comfortable as employer rather than employee.

But yes, I think I will go for it!

It's perfectly reasonable to pay someone to do something that you could do yourself if

• they would do it better than you

- they would do it faster than you - you just would rather not do it yourself

The only thing you need to consider is 'Can I pay a cleaner & feed the kids' if the answer to that is 'yes' get a cleaner.

• You'd be boosting the economy.
• You'd have more time for the kids/yourself.
• Just because you CAN do something, doesn't mean you HAVE to do it.

It can be a trial getting the right one, but when you have, they are worth their weight in gold and you wont look back!!

(You are working mad hours as a single parent with no formal childcare - I take my hat off to you!)

I also love my cleaner and it would be a very very sad day if I had to give her up!

There's no need at all to feel lazy - you are doing so much already. Hire one and never look back.

I've come home and immediately knew I hadn't had my normal cleaner today . Forgot she was on holiday.

I work part-time, have 1 child, and I have a cleaner. I love my cleaner. I could spend my days off cleaning, or my weekends, but I'd rather spend them doing nice family stuff. Or sitting on the sofa browsing the Internet.

I will cut back on a lot of other stuff before I cut back on my cleaner.

We have a cleaner, once a fortnight, walking into the house after they have been is brilliant, definitely worth the money IMO.

If you can afford it, YANBU.

Getting a cleaner is one of the first things on my "when I have a proper job" list.

Do it. We got a cleaner recently. It's amazing and has taken away he main source of my rows with DH.

Why oh why oh bloody why would it be unreasonable to hire a cleaner if you can afford to?

Why do you need to ask??

We had a cleaner before having children and we still have one now. Giving her up is not an option :)