Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

would you employ household staff if money were no object?

266 replies

UnsuspectedItem · 02/03/2018 14:51

I'm a Nanny and I work in a household of 20+ staff. Mum doesn't work.
I was wondering today whether, if money were no object, I'd have a similar set up or not.

For context, there are several children, each with their own nanny and I manage those nannies, in a "Head Nanny" role.
There are also several housekeepers, butlers, maids, chauffeurs etc.
The family consists of the children and both parents.

I think I'd HAVE to go out to work, even though I wouldn't need to, as I get bored incredibly easily. But I suspect that I'd get bored of my job and then end up starting new things again and again. (In short, I'd suck at being wealthy)

Before anyone gets their knickers in a twist, this is in AIBU because it was going to be "AIBU to be uncomfortable with the idea of household staff?" but then I thought I'd get ripped apart for not being neutral

OP posts:
coconutpie · 02/03/2018 15:00

Hell yes!!

UnicornRainbowColours · 02/03/2018 15:01

I’m a nanny too, and I’ve worked for fully staffed households and it can be a really run environment as long everyone respects each other and gets on well.

The mummy boss worked full time though.

I would totally have staff if I could haha

ShinyMe · 02/03/2018 15:01

I wouldn't want a cook or a chauffeur. But a cleaner would be nice, and a gardener would be fab.

And I absolutely wouldn't get bored without work! I would crochet and watch telly and watch telly and go out to the theatre every day.

SweetMoon · 02/03/2018 15:01

Yes I would!!!!! I'd love a housekeeper! But that's probably it if I didn't work. If I worked and money no object if have the whole shebang. Cook, driver, nanny, cleaner. I'm soooooo tired of doing everything!

InaConfusedState · 02/03/2018 15:01

Hell yeah I’d have staff. I’d also have a massive house (mansion?) so the staff have their own wing and I could get on with my own stuff in the main house.

trilbydoll · 02/03/2018 15:01

Definitely a housekeeper. I hate everything a housekeeper would do. And cleaning staff. And presumably I have a huge garden so a gardener is probably necessary.

Not really bothered about a chauffeur or a nanny if I'm not working. They're at school long enough for me to do whatever I want to do. Although maybe I would have a very glamorous life with lots of evenings out?

Cath2907 · 02/03/2018 15:02

All those staff wouldn't fit in my house! However assuming un-limited pile of cash yes I probably would.

Certainly I'd have a cook, housekeeper and cleaner, gardener and chauffer. I am not sure about a nanny. I like hanging with my kid. If I didn't have to do the housework I'd like to think I'd spend the spare time with the kid.

KevinTheYuccaPlant · 02/03/2018 15:02

DH loves to cook, so I suspect a chef wouldn't have much to do in our house. We do have a cleaner and I would sacrifice many, many other things before giving that up. I'd love to have a gardener, but there isn't anyone nearer than about 25 miles away. Other than that, no, I like my privacy.

AuntieMay · 02/03/2018 15:02

I lived in KSA for a couple of years and we had a lady y days a week, 6 hrs per day to clean and help with the children ( 1 at school and a newborn). I loved it! Would definitely have household staff if we had more money! We had a gardener too and life was pretty easy to be honest if you don't think the the restrictions of life in the middle East.

RachelRosie · 02/03/2018 15:02

If I could afford a cleaner I 100% would have one. I hate how house work takes over at the weekend and would to have that time free with my family

GiveMyHeadPeaceffs · 02/03/2018 15:02

I think I like the idea of it but not having been raised in a household with staff I think eventually I'd find it claustrophobic.

I'd love a live-out housekeeper though and maybe someone to give me a break from looking after ds occasionally. I'd be happy with that Smile

mumtomaxwell · 02/03/2018 15:02

100% yes! I’d have someone to cook and clean and do all the laundry - does a housekeeper do all those things?

AuntieMay · 02/03/2018 15:03

*6 days per week

MissSueFlay · 02/03/2018 15:03

I would love to have live-out staff - cleaner, gardener, maintenance, after-school nanny, someone to advise on interior design.... But I wouldn't like to share my home with any of them.

timeisnotaline · 02/03/2018 15:03

Hell yes. Housekeeper, gardener, cook (arrive at 4pm some days, I do like cooking) cleaner, and nanny.

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 02/03/2018 15:03

Absolutely. No question.

Midnightpony · 02/03/2018 15:03

100% yes . Housekeeper. And cleaner . And masseuse

MsAwesomeDragon · 02/03/2018 15:03

Yes, I'd have staff. Probably a nanny, although maybe not full time if I wasn't working. Definitely a cleaner, although a housekeeper would be better. And a cook.

If money was no object then I would definitely be off doing other things, so I would want to have staff to take care of all the day to day drudgery. What else is money for? You would quickly run out of"stuff" to buy, so you would use the money to make your life easier/more fun. So staff to take care of the household while I go traveling, or exercise (unlikely), or indulge in some MN in my PJs.

formerbabe · 02/03/2018 15:04

Yes I would.

I'd also have nannies not so much to take care of the children..I'd still do that myself, but so I could have the freedom to go out whenever I wanted to childfree.

LokiBear · 02/03/2018 15:04

I'd employ a cleaner and a gardener. Without being disrespectful to your role, I don't need anyone to help me look after my kids at home. I've only got two. Full disclosure, whilst I work, they go to nursery/school, however, if I was rich that still wouldn't change, though I'd work much less.

Drainedandconfused · 02/03/2018 15:04

No I wouldn't, if money were no object I'd still only have a modest but totally luxurious home, somewhere fairly remote with an acre or so of land, I'd mow my own acre of lawn with my sit on lawnmower.
I'm uncomfortable with people other than friends or family in my home so the idea of loads of people floating around would be a nightmare for me.
I enjoy cooking and as there's only 2 of us at home there's never much cleaning or laundry, employing people would be pointless.
Although I wouldn't mind employing somebody to help me out right now, SEN DS and I have come down with a horrendous virus, we are both under 2 duvets on the sofa. I'd love someone to make me a cuppa and a hot water bottle!

MrsDustyBusty · 02/03/2018 15:04

Certainly. I'd definitely have a housekeeper, personal chef, cleaner and gardener. And I'd have a nanny to ensure continuity of care and professional advice of child development. And for when my personal trainer comes around. And for nitty stuff.

user187656748 · 02/03/2018 15:05

I have a cleaner twice a week and a gardener once a week. I find that intrusive enough but I work from home. My friend has a housekeeper set up where someone comes in to clean and cook the evening meal and does things like dry cleaning collection, organises maintenance, accepting shopping deliveries etc. The housekeeper leaves roughly about the same time they get home (they both work and DC are teenagers). That's a good set up (but costly)

cleoowen · 02/03/2018 15:06

I would have a house keeper who washes and tidied up and does washing and keep our cleaner. 20 staff though, no.

Original poster
UnsuspectedItem · 02/03/2018 15:07

I apologise, I should have mentioned that the nanny situation means that there is 24/7 childcare, with at least 2 nannies present at all times, this is what started me thinking this morning as I was wondering if I'd actually be able to cope with sharing the love of the kids; I genuinely think I'd get jealous Blush

OP posts: