To be confused as to why hiring a cleaner is seen as an indulgence?

[Gahr]

This is something that I see time and again on this site, and it is SO WEIRD. People seem to think that it is the height of luxury to have a housecleaner, and also seem to be strangely apologetic about it, offering disclaimers as to why they need one. Also, I've noticed that on threads when someone has a problem with their cleaning service, they will get several posts telling them to 'clean their own house'. Nobody would tell someone to 'service their own boiler' or 'fix their own toilet'! I don't understand it at all. I have a cleaner and I wouldn't be without her.

Of course it's possible, but it's time that you could be spending on something else. Everyone only gets 168 hours in a week whoever they are. When I bought my first house I was spending between 70 and 100 of those hours at work most weeks and a good chunk of the rest studying for my professional exams. I expect I could have kept on top of my housework if I had wanted to but why on earth would I? When the choice is between sleeping or doing the ironing who in their right minds would pick ironing if they didn't have to?
For my entire working life I was relatively cash rich and time poor. Spare time was very precious to me and I never saw any virtue in spending any more of it on domestic tasks than I had to. If I hadn't had the disposable income to pay a cleaner obviously we would have had to manage between us but I did have the money and family life was far better with a cleaner than it would have been without. I didn't want to make things any harder than they had to be!

18-20£ is standard around here.

My point was its entirely possible for families to be cash poor and time poor. (And do their own cleaning)

For you, and lots of others its a choice , and for others it isnt a choice because they dont have any spare money. I imagine lots of people dont even contemplate how they could free up their time if they had a cleaner...because its just not within their budget

No really. I don’t have a luxury car, my children go to a state school, I never get my nails done, I can’t afford a new vacuum cleaner, my fence needs replacing which I can’t afford.

I work hard but times are hard.

why can’t you accept that some people clearly can’t afford it!?

I think their point is though that lots of two person households work full-time but still can't afford to hire cleaners and the assumption that it makes not a luxury just because one is cash rich but time poor is strange.

A lot of people are often strapped for time and cash.

It sounds sensible of you to have hired a cleaner in your circumstances and I'm sure I'd have done the same. It was a luxury you were able to afford though - for some they can't even consider it as an option.

I prioritise a cleaner... I'm a full time carer... I already spend too long cleaning up after elderly parent. My health isn't good... If I did ALL the cleaning, I'd have even less sleep... And my health would be worse.

Yes, and lots of people are in your position and can't prioritise a cleaner because there is literally nothing left at the end of the month.

Tell me how you know how much they are claiming. Because you can't come out with "their benefits are too high" unless you know exactly what they get.

BTW, they use PIP to pay for a cleaner because they are disabled and unable to clean. I know others who get a weekly hair wash and blow dry in a hairdressers... something many would see as a luxury, because they literally can not wash their own hair.

Oh!
Gosh! Such a princess!

Honestly, this thread is descending into the 'Four Yorkshiremen' Monty Python sketch.

Nope, it's just reality for millions of people.

Your ignorance is showing.

People get it.

What is happening is you can't agree it's a luxury. You don't want to do it, so you choose to pay for it. Fine.

But you could do it yourself, if you didn't have the money for or couldn't justify the expense of a cleaner. Which makes it a luxury.

None of us can comprehend why you can't see that.

It's personal choice... and I prioritise it over coffees/meals out/evenings /subscriptions.... Many of which people have who budget differently..

I choose my health...many people in my position choose differently and that's OK...

But what PPs are saying is that some people don't have that choice. They can't afford meals out, coffees, subscriptions OR cleaners.

No one is judging anyone one which luxuries they choose. Just pointing out that they are luxuries.

No, I couldn't, because I prioritize my mental health!

Most people on this thread and on this site are NOT in that position, though!

And some people have to cut out on other things to pay for a cleaner because they can't clean.

?? Because you can afford to pay for the luxury of prioritising your mental health? You don't think there are thousands if not millions of people with poor mental health who look around their home and wish they could afford to pay for someone to clean it?

You COULD if you had to. The impact on your mental health doesn't actually change the fact that, if you had to, you could physically clean your house.

You are adamant that people are judging you because you're paying someone else to clean for you. We're not. Pay for whatever you like. Just don't come on with all the fake "why do people think this is such a luxury, I couldn't possibly mop a floor?" nonsense.

You know it's a luxury, you just don't want to admit it.

No, we're not. Doesn't mean no one is. Or that we can't see that we are privileged enough to be able to make the choice.

You're privileged. Accept it.

No, I'm really not. I am middle income and I work for what I have.

This with bells on. You need to give your head a wobble OP.
Personally you’re giving Harry Enfield vibes given you clearly want everyone to know “I am considerably richer than yow”

Yes? How does that change the fact that OP reckons it's impossible to believe that most people see being able to do so as a luxury?

How the fuckity fuck do you know?!

So does everyone who works.

Doesn't change that you have the privilege of choice on how to spend your money. Some people don't, they cover the essentials for survival and there's nothing left. Doesn't matter what the impact on their mental health is, that choice is taken away from them.

You have the privilege of making choices about disposable cash. Not everyone does.