To have spent £700 on a cleaner/gardener

[ReenaGee]

I'm a lone parent to a 5yo with ASD/ADHD. I have 10k saved and am doing relatively ok apart from being time poor. I work full time, DS the rest of the time. He can't be left alone.

I have booked a cleaner for a deep clean of my house, and a gardener to completely de-weed the garden, plant flowers, cut hedges, power wash etc. £700 in total.

Told my mum I had treated myself today as I've been stressed about where on earth I'm going to find the time to do it. I didn't tell her how much it was, but she proceeded to tell me I am wasting my money and should get on with adulting myself. Was said in a slightly jovial tone but equally she meant it.

Do, AIBU? IMHO it is the self care I need ATM pre summer but she's got in my head making me feel like I'm not achieving things I should be...

Bloody wish I could do that. They are all bigger jobs than you think so getting someone professional to do it is a huge de stress.

Oh, sounds like a dream come true for you, yes it's expensive but it'll bring you enjoyment and peace of mind.

Enjoy the results. 🥂💐

A brilliant thing to do.
It will be like a complete refresh and reset which is SO healthy. Hope you really enjoy it afterwards 😊

Dd 17 is doing some gardening for someone, mostly weeding and she is getting £9 an hour. She's doing 4 hours a week.

I'm assuming that would be because of age/experience or location. Don't get an experienced gardener round me for less than £20 p/h

Your time is valuable. Think how many hours of work it would take to do everything the cleaner and gardener are doing. It could take you months and then you need to restart again!

would your mum help with childcare or doing the cleaning? Was she a working parent?

I would just pay and get it done and then tell her that you took her feedback on board and did some adulting and look what you achieved. She is just jealous that you can afford to outsource.

you could literally die tomorrow and not spend the money. You’ve got enough so if boiler breaks tomorrow then you have savings.

don’t let people rain on your parade.

one thing I would recommend is spending some time decluttering so the cleaner can clean. Get rid of broken stuff, old toys, clothes that don’t fit etc.

Yes, she's young and I don't think she'd be much use for anything but weeding and mowing. Dm decided to employ a gardener last year, paid a few hundred pound to a professional gardener to do some major cutting back, weeding etc. It was then agreed he would come every 2 weeks and he never came back. She's feeling a bit disillusioned.

Sounds great! I’d love this. Just don’t tell your Mum next time (mine would probably say something similar tbh)

Today is the day 😁

So excited for you OP.

please report back

5 year olds are hard work. I don't blame you one bit.

I brought ds up alone. I did not work full time but annual springcleaning took very much the backseat for a number of years!

I still gave a gardener now going forward. £40 for 2 hours a month April to September. Not the best of backs and I also get get plant allergies.

I hope you enjoy the home and garden and maybe don't tell people going forward. I often get a comment if I say the gardener is coming from other people. Too many hang ups out there!

If I can afford it in my 70s wd pay for somebody to do the annual spring cleaning.

I am 61 and just did 50 mins spring cleaning and needed to sit down now! It takes forever.

perfect timing be nice for to enjoy thos long weekend coming

The house is spotless! All stains gone from the carpet. Walls spotless. Skirting looks beautiful. Hard water marks all gone. Toilets descaled. Windows clean. Money so well spent!

Wonderful! Worth every penny!

Ment well spent !
Messy house ( and garden ) messy mind .
If you have the savings and it’s what you would like to spend it on to make life better then go for it.
Time is precious . I think it’s a great idea. Enjoy

Definitely nothing wrong with paying - where you can afford it - for jobs you can't/don't want to do. If I could afford a weekly cleaner you can bet I'd do it.

£700 actually sounds good when you think about what you're getting for your money. If you can afford it, and it will help you a lot, definitely do it!

@ReenaGeecongratulations! I’m really pleased for you, how,is the garden looking? It must be lovely to have the house gleaming!

That is fabulous news. Well done!

After all it supports local businesses so nothing wrong with that.

augustus40 thanks for posting that! I’m 61 and amaze at a) I’m that old and b) how knackered I get. VERY reassuring to know I’m not alone!!!!
OP, imo, ABSOLUTELY MONEY WELL SPENT, it’s what money is for. I had a. Cleaner and psychologicallly it’s so worth it to come home to a clean house, feels like you’ve had a weekend in a spa!
enjoy!

Absolutely fantastic outcome and money very well spent

That is a brilliant way to treat yourself, OP, and also sounds like a bargain, given what is being done. You’ll be able to relax with your DC and enjoy the garden for the summer!

I think that is a great investment in your home and your peace of mind. It will give you a foundation from which you can kept things going much more easily. It isn't expensive either, having just spent £400 on gardeners to clear a very over grown garden for sale.