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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think all Mumsnetters are on top of life admin

310 replies

Southern · 15/02/2021 14:32

Just that really, it's been a bit hectic lately and I feel like I have fallen behind on stuff. I read some threads for tips on here and most MN'ers responses were quite scathing towards those who weren't on top of life admin which to be honest, made me feel like a bit of a failure. Is everyone on here on top of everything and always goes on comparison sites to check all their quotes etc? The amount of form filling just fills me with dread and sends me on a procrastination loop (which is why I am here typing this probably)...... for those who are on top of it, when do you do it?

OP posts:
HazelWong · 15/02/2021 18:55

@SchrodingersImmigrant

So many opeople are mentioning house repairs😱 We have something to do quaterly at max.

Obviously it will sound like A LOT if people write down what they are doing in whole 12 months into 1 post tho. 🤷🏻

It depends though - where we are, it's really hard to get a tradesmen out. The last time, we contacted 12 electricians, only 3 actually turned up to quote then one ghosted us, then had to arrange a time etc and sort payment.

Not a huge problem in and of itself but when you have busy careers and 2 young children it's a pain

AColdDuncanGoodhew · 15/02/2021 18:58

Life admin is a load of pish

SteveBrexit · 15/02/2021 19:00

There are always posters laughing at "life admin"

but this forum is full of stressed out posters in the months leading to Christmas

or working mothers struggling to juggle home life, children, school,

and how much support you get if you mention the "mental load" and how unfair it is, as apparently most Menz don't join in..

So laugh away, but you'll get a different reply if you talk about that "mental load" instead of life admin.

I work and have kids, currently at home for obvious reasons. It's absolute bollocks that "admin" takes 2 minutes a week, unless you have absolutely no life.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 15/02/2021 19:00

House repairs aren't admin, they're DIY.

I don't.know I go by what people here mention😂

brownet · 15/02/2021 19:01

I consider DIY as life admin though as it has to done.

Corcory · 15/02/2021 19:02

Oh, I forgot about the prescriptions 17 repeats between us!

SchrodingersImmigrant · 15/02/2021 19:05

So what is a life admin then because it looks like it's not just admin?

brownet · 15/02/2021 19:05

I tend to see everything that encompasses living my life as life admin if that makes sense as no one else will do it for me or DH. Hence why I include DIY, holidays, clothes shopping etc.

SteveBrexit · 15/02/2021 19:07

@brownet

I consider DIY as life admin though as it has to done.
exactly! All the "house and life chores" are life admin.

It's a stupid name, but the list can be very long for some of us. Who cares if others have nothing to plan or organise ever? it doesn't make your own list any lighter.

BatleyTownswomensGuild · 15/02/2021 19:08

I am increasingly feeling totally ground down with juggling work, parenting my child with SEN, life admin etc. Came to a crisis recently when I realised the house insurance had lapsed and I hadn't noticed. Cue quick scramble to get new policy in place. I'm constantly feeling like I have a 100 things on my list. It's exhausting...

brownet · 15/02/2021 19:08

So I see admin as all the admin tasks that need to be done to run a business/organisation. My life is the business in life admin.

ToooOldForThis · 15/02/2021 19:09

I had to take my car off the road recently as I had no tax or MOT as I'd missed the date on both...does that sum up how on top of such things I am?

SchrodingersImmigrant · 15/02/2021 19:10

Well then I get why some people feel overwhelmed. I just counted 7 life admin tasks for tonight... Since we are counting everything

sammylady37 · 15/02/2021 19:10

@BackforGood

It’s hardly 9-5 five days a week is it confused.

I can't recall me, or anyone else on here saying it was. You are the person who said it was a 2 min job. I was disagreeing, but at no point exaggerated like that.

Tip - there is a clever little thing called a comparison site that will compare insurance prices for you in a couple of minutes. They’ll even email the result to you.

No need to be sarky.

a) I do use comparison sites - more than one as they can vary quite a bit.
b) When you have to answer questions about information you don't happen to carry around in your head, then it takes a damn site longer than 2mins. No, I haven't memorised my driving licence number. No I haven't memorised dh's DL number. No, I haven't imprinted into memory the exact date of the two (non fault) incidents we have to put the details of into the questions . No I don't know the exact amount of the claim without looking it up. No, I'm not 100% of the NCD number of years without double checking. etc etc etc

Your (b) point is easily fixed for this year and every other year. Open a folder (either a paper one or one on your computer) and keep a record of DL number, the details of your previous claims and other relevant info. Put your insurance feet and other documents into this folder. When you receive your renewal info in the post it will have your NCB info on it. And there you have all the info you need when looking for a quote.
sammylady37 · 15/02/2021 19:11

^insurance cert, not feet!

brownet · 15/02/2021 19:11

Went to take my passport for ID & realised it expired 8 months ago. Now I don't want to renew until i've lost the lockdown paunch (which shows on my face)

CandyLeBonBon · 15/02/2021 19:14

@Southern you said "most MN'ers responses were quite scathing towards those who weren't on top of life admin which to be honest, made me feel like a bit of a failure"

And you weren't wrong. They're out in all their sneery force on this thread aren't they?!

I'm a single parent of three. I'm drowning in life admin and I don't mind admitting it, whether people choose to think I'm making a fuss about nothing or not.

You're not a failure op, I feel like that too. Sometimes it can all feel a bit overwhelming Thanks

lazylinguist · 15/02/2021 19:15

For me, admin means all the organisational tasks involved in running a home and looking after a family. Actually physically decorating the living room isn't admin, but I'd definitely count planning your decor, deciding when to schedule doing it, choosing paint and buying brushes etc as admin. Most of the stuff on my to-do list is admin of some kind.

SpudsandGravy · 15/02/2021 19:17

Just dropping a line, OP, to tell you that you're not alone. I'm absolutely hopeless about that kind of thing. I have friends who are very good at it, and I wish I was more like that, but I don't let it get me down :-)

brownet · 15/02/2021 19:18

@lazylinguist thinking about it actually I don't class the physical task of painting something as life admin but as you say it's the planning, choosing colours, etc.

brownet · 15/02/2021 19:20

same way my yoga class isn't life admin but deciding what classes & teacher I want, booking & paying for the sessions is.

brownet · 15/02/2021 19:20

It's all the drudge that makes shit happen. What else can you call it.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 15/02/2021 19:21

@brownet

It's all the drudge that makes shit happen. What else can you call it.
Life
brownet · 15/02/2021 19:22

I think life is the fun part, the doing part.

Davros · 15/02/2021 19:29

If you've got anyone sick or disabled in your life it causes a lot of admin. I've just ordered my own repeat prescriptions online, checked DH's stock of meds, renewed DS's blue badge which was an absolute pita as the usual LA wouldn't do it so had to start again with another. DS has to move to a new placement this year now he is 25, so I have to take a lead in that or he'll end up in some dump. Need to renew residents parking permit and tax for DD's car, need to sort out storage unit having moved in august after 25 years ...........