Page 4 | Life admin / mental load - let’s have your outsourcing inspiration!

Countrysu · 2026-08-08T06:30:59+00:00

There seems to be thread after thread on here about life admin and mental load woes, so I thought it would be good to give some inspiration on what could help people. Out sourcing has been a god send for our family - the obvious cleaner who we’ve upped to twice a week but recently, we’ve trialled a private chef. Nothing fancy, but someone who batch cooks enough for 5 meals which covers the week nights. I would highly recommend this as the time saving is huge. All other out sourcing inspiration welcome!

Gassylady · 08/08/2026 15:08

JacknDiane · 08/08/2026 09:54

I looked up Urban PA, it came up on LinkedIn.

About us
At Urban PA we value our customers, and that it is a privilege to be a part of there daily routine.

They cant even spell their correctly....

I have sent you support (not sarcastic!) I would not be impressed with a PA company that couldn’t use the correct spelling

CypressMoon · 08/08/2026 15:11

MightyGoldBear · 08/08/2026 08:28

I'm not in a position to throw money at any area of my life so many of these suggestions will be useless to many of us.

I like little 5 minute chunks of time that can make a difference. Its called piggybacking.
When I brush my teeth I wash the sink, when I bathe my children I'll clean the bathroom whilst I chat to them. Waiting for the kettle clean the sides.

What me and my husband do in the evenings is combine a job with a background programme or chatting together so it's less boring. Last night we sorted out the bathroom cupboards all the over due empty bottles etc whilst watching Clarksons farm. Just makes it feel less of a boring evening. We Decorate this way too we refurbished the kitchen in December with stranger things on in the background. If we are alone we listen to podcasts. Certainly makes painting more bearable. Maybe it's a adhd thing but helps us stay on task.

I wish I could do this but I can't. Radio maybe, but I find it impossible to watch TV and do anything else at the same time except eat! Even that is a bit distracting and hard. I'm very impressed at that level of multi-tasking.

Banalas · 08/08/2026 15:19

User7989776 · 08/08/2026 09:27

Are the meals genuinely edible after 5 days? I always felt meal prepping or batch cooking sound great in theory or for people who aren't naturally picky eaters but they never work in real life when you have children and also like to be militant about food safety. I cannot imagine a 6 year old coming home and willingly eating 6 days old soggy broccoli that's been sitting next to 5 day old salmon in a box in the fridge. If the meals are frozen and you have to prepare fresh sides then that's almost as much faff as making it all from scratch.

I’m baffled by the meal prep videos. I suspect the secret might be irradiated vegetables or no tastebuds

13RidgmontRoad · 08/08/2026 15:45

A repetitive, rough meal plan which cuts down on cooking. We also eat the same thing for two dinners in a row, for example.

A few SOS dinners always in the cupboard/freezer so a meal can be on the table even if you’re back late / arriving home after a holiday / whatever.

If something sounds uncomfortable, unnecessary, expensive and/or frankly even not fun at the point of offer/invitation, just say no then. (Rather than saying yes and dreading it and hating yourself in the weeks that follow.)

WutheringTights · 09/08/2026 00:06

Justonegirl · 08/08/2026 12:50

Well done you for having the time and brain space for this stuff. Some of us can manage without help and others need help. We’re all different.

We've all capable of doing what we need to get by in life.

I outsource a lot of this stuff because I work very long hours in a high stress job plus do various voluntary roles, have elderly parents needing help themselves and have three kids and a dog

Cut your hours down and chill. Why are you doing voluntary roles when you're struggling to cope?

I disagree that no one ever needs help in life - what a strange point of view.

But back to your observations about my life. Why would I do less of things I find rewarding and enjoyable to free up time to do things I don’t enjoy? I choose to have a high paying job, which then means I earn enough to outsource jobs I don’t want to do, so that I can instead use the time to do the things I do want to do. I prefer to pay someone to do my ironing for instance, (I job I hate) to give me time to spend with my elderly parents/ young children/ doing something I love which also gives back to society.

FiveMetresUp · 09/08/2026 00:22

I was thinking of getting a chef. I worked it out and it was CHEAPER than getting several takeaways a week because we don't always have time to cook.

Imanexcellentdrivercharliebabbit · 09/08/2026 00:26

featherhats · 08/08/2026 08:21

We hired a butler called Ferguson a few months ago. He's amazing and has taken a huge mental load off my mind.

He does the housework, answers the door, runs me a bath, and the other day he organised a beautiful soiree to help me charm my opera board members.

I dont know how I coped without him

How marvellous does he also wipe one’s bottom and ‘see to’ DH ? 😉

canuckup · 09/08/2026 02:31

Yeah fuck the bloody batch cooking in the moronic slow cooker, bring on Jeeves instead

I'll have a side of privilege with mine if you please

Bloody MN champagne lefties

SlightlyHassled · 09/08/2026 03:49

Superscientist · 08/08/2026 10:09

For me it is the holding everything that needs doing in my head that I find difficult.

We have a family calendar which has a lot of regular items in it. The thing that has made a big difference is having the bins reminder each week. We were looking it up every week what bins could
go out. 2 minutes setting it up now saves us 5 minutes physical time and 20 minutes of i must look up if it's recycling today

My daughters school has the option of downloading school holidays as a calendar invite which makes that a lot easier

We have shared to do lists and a white board for things to remember and a paper calendar

We use subscribe and save / subscription for a lot of need once a month things

I bulk buy birthday cards and presents for birthday parties. I get the 25p cards in Tesco and a bunch of 12 pack party bags fillers and combine to give presents depending on what I think the friend would like.

@Superscientistthank you for the bins suggestion. I already had the reminder of it being bin night on my phone but it had never occurred to me to do a reminder of which bin it is, and I spend a good 5-10 mins trying to track down the recycling calendar which someone is sure to have moved. Hopefully I can eliminate that step now.

EvieBB · 09/08/2026 06:37

WutheringTights · 09/08/2026 00:06

I disagree that no one ever needs help in life - what a strange point of view.

But back to your observations about my life. Why would I do less of things I find rewarding and enjoyable to free up time to do things I don’t enjoy? I choose to have a high paying job, which then means I earn enough to outsource jobs I don’t want to do, so that I can instead use the time to do the things I do want to do. I prefer to pay someone to do my ironing for instance, (I job I hate) to give me time to spend with my elderly parents/ young children/ doing something I love which also gives back to society.

Show quote history

I used to hate ironing but now find I like it as it gives me an excuse to catch up on TV/film/series without feeling guilty 😁

concertinacornflake · 09/08/2026 06:40

Hahahaha this thread is unreal.

No one who can afford £100 for a private chef is going to be struggling with life admin!

Justonegirl · 09/08/2026 06:47

I dunno Wuthering you just sounded a bit overwhelmed with life when you wrote "I need help with life stuff.*

Glad you're ok.

Original poster

Countrysu · 09/08/2026 07:28

Some brilliant suggestions- thanks all!

To the handful of posters making snide remarks, was it not clear what the thread was about from the first post/subject. At that point, either move on or continue to read and contribute politely - it could always be used as aspiration.

OP posts:

BlackberryAppleCrumble · 09/08/2026 07:30

I asked my cleaner if she’d consider extra hours for some housekeeping tasks, and now she also changes and washes the bedclothes and towels, and puts away the online shop. I still have to meal plan and do the online shop, but coming home to a clean house and the shopping put away is wonderful. She’ll also wait in for deliveries or repairs, if I check with her before booking and time it around when she’s free.

It works for both of us - she wanted extra hours at times that suited her (we agree times each week, around her schedule).

AImportantMermaid · 09/08/2026 07:34

I get a Hello Fresh box 3-4 meals a week. I think I actually save money because it means I’m only going to the supermarket once a week instead of 2-3 times, so I’m not being seduced by the aisle of shite in Aldi anymore.

JacknDiane · 09/08/2026 08:14

Countrysu · 09/08/2026 07:28

Some brilliant suggestions- thanks all!

To the handful of posters making snide remarks, was it not clear what the thread was about from the first post/subject. At that point, either move on or continue to read and contribute politely - it could always be used as aspiration.

Very snide @Countrysu

Justonegirl · 09/08/2026 08:57

OP - please do answer our questions about your "chef."

We're intrigued.

timtamsarebetterthanpenguins · 09/08/2026 09:07

Countrysu · 09/08/2026 07:28

Some brilliant suggestions- thanks all!

To the handful of posters making snide remarks, was it not clear what the thread was about from the first post/subject. At that point, either move on or continue to read and contribute politely - it could always be used as aspiration.

Maybe you should think about using some of your extra money to improve your manners 🙄

ViciousCurrentBun · 09/08/2026 09:26

@SlightlyHassled I just look out the window, boiler suit man always has his bin out early, could set your watch by him.

LetsVisit123446 · 09/08/2026 10:13

I have a physical diary

I do not iron anything

I have a robot hoover & a Henri

I have a dishwasher

Hobnobswantshernameback · 09/08/2026 10:31

Aspiration
Pmsl
not sure pissing four hundred quid a month against a wall cause I'm too incompetent to cook some meals is anything to aspire to hun

Superscientist · 09/08/2026 11:39

ViciousCurrentBun · 09/08/2026 09:26

@SlightlyHassled I just look out the window, boiler suit man always has his bin out early, could set your watch by him.

We had a neighbour that was reliable like this in our old house but our current neighbours are less reliable. My partner is also very colour blind and at a distance can't tell what colour bins are out

hahabahbag · 09/08/2026 11:53

Recipe boxes are a good idea for those who are struggling with shopping, choose the quick cook or minimal prep ones as suits you. Definitely a good medium level hack cost wise.

perhaps i should hire myself as a personal chef once I retire from my day job … i could do 3 - 4 houses in a day and leave food cooked for the week in their fridges. I’m already doing a bit of it for friends (I do have my level 3 food hygiene certificate too!)

Original poster

Countrysu · 09/08/2026 12:35

hahabahbag · 09/08/2026 11:53

Recipe boxes are a good idea for those who are struggling with shopping, choose the quick cook or minimal prep ones as suits you. Definitely a good medium level hack cost wise.

perhaps i should hire myself as a personal chef once I retire from my day job … i could do 3 - 4 houses in a day and leave food cooked for the week in their fridges. I’m already doing a bit of it for friends (I do have my level 3 food hygiene certificate too!)

Go for it! Our chef actually came from a corporate background originally. A case of having the right contacts (we are in the home counties where there’s a lot of high earners) and a good work ethic, and it can be a really good earner.

OP posts:

Dancingsquirrels · 09/08/2026 13:06

Google calendar for everything eg MOT, insurance, birthday gifts, when blue recycling bins go out. Never rely on memory. That makes up too much headspace

Well stocked freezer is cheaper and more healthy than takeaway eg we always have several curries in there. "Bored of Lunch" has some good recipes

Ruthless decluttering

But mostly, don't live with / marry a misogynist who thinks it's your job to do all this stuff. Share the jobs fairly