in thinking that if we have monthly income of £3700 net we could spare £120 to spend on a cleaner?

[effedorf]

3+ years posting here, namechange for obvious reasons.

But, seriously, what do you think?

The income all comes from dh and I am sahm. We have two primary school age children. I truly hate cleaning and I do 95% of the food shopping and cooking and 100% of the laundry and 95% of all the other things that makes a family tick over.

Or am I being unreasonable?

The net income is totally irrelevant unless you also tell us your total monthly outgoings.

What is your disposable income each month?

And not surprisingly, I would say it has stopped 80% of the rows between DH and myself... So it may be £25 a week but it's priceless for the effect it has on our relationship!

Why do you feel as if you need to justify it?

It's impossible to do anything other than maintain with young children.

What do I think? I think you should get a cleaner.

I'm a SAHM with school-aged (or older) DCs as well. I do 100% of just about everything given that DH is working away from home most weeks. I do a lot of voluntary work. I still have a shed load of time to clean - I don't enjoy it, but there you go.

So I'm struggling to understand the need, but it's your (family) money, I'm sure you save your DH more than £120 a month in childcare, housekeeping etc etc, so yes, fair enough. Unless you could put that £1440 per annum towards something more important. Like £1440's worth of a better holiday than you woudl otherwise have had.

Well, what else do you do while your kids are at school? I'm not suggesting that you spend your whole day cleaning, but if your kids are at school and you are at home it's not unreasonable for you to do some housework. Most people do all the stuff you listed as well as working full or part time. Though, God knows, I'd love a cleaner, I'd settle for at least a dishwasher!

Should I spend my money how I like - well yes really as what is the point in letting soemone else decide that for you

I live below the breadline, and I'm in no way offended that this lady has posted her income as a detail of the op. Surely it's relevant to show that having a cleaner wouldn't be a huge expense to them, so her dh is being a bit unreasonable to deny her one.

Go for it girl! Life's too short to spend on cleaning, if you can afford not to. Go and spend that time on your kids and having fun! I bloody would, in your shoes! Plus you'll be giving someone a job near to Christmas, who might be struggling themselves.

Jaysus!

We have 5k net per month, I work part time, dh full time, our house is mahoooosive, yet I can blardy clean.

Children at primary school and you don't work outside home AND you don't have time to clean?

Well as Cantsleepwontsleep said we don't know what her outgoings are, so a cleaner may not be affordable after all.

I have time to clean. I just hate doing it. Please read op.

Yes get one, you can afford it

and I really don't see the problem with posting your exact income anonymously

I can't really see why you need a cleaner tbh. As a SAHM of school age children you have plenty of time during the day to do cleaning, etc. Of course a SAHM (with school age children) should do the childcare, laundry, cooking, shopping, etc. However, it's between you and your DH.

Cleaning is a monotonous chore regardless of income or how many children at home.

Good ol wife swap has opened my eyes to the couples where the dh earns millions and still likes to have his wife at home doing 4 hours cleaning a day.

Crazy, get a cleaner.

I have time to clean, I just absolutely hate doing it and I'm very bad at it so I have a cleaner. I work part time.

Go for it.

Op didn't say her dh was objecting to hiring a cleaner

I am struggling to see the point of the OP, tbh

get a cleaner or don't

why would you care what a bunch of strangers think ?

unless there is more to this ?

and I agree with fabs, why are you doing 90% of house/childcare ?

even if you are a SAHM, that is not a fair division of labour

sort that out 1st, IMO

OP go for it, you're a SAHM and your children are at school at least for 6 hours a day so why not? You could pay someone to breathe for you while you were at it.

I'm torn on this one.

As someone who hates cleaning and as part of the sisterhood I should be right there whooping you on about how you are entitled to spend your money how you like.

However as you do seem to have time to do it and unless your DH or yourself has unfeasibly high standards of cleaning then it does seem a tad excessive to outsource.

I don't understand the question.

It doesn't matter how much your monthly income is. It's the essential outgoings that are relevant. I could care less how much your monthly income is or if you chose to post it here.

A better question would have been "We can afford a cleaner. But as a SAHM I wonder if I can justify it. What do you think?"

And then I would think - if you can afford it, why not do it?

Yes do it. You will not regret it.

I have the bad habit of thinking my life will be better without a cleaner even though I loathe cleaning and I am not remotely interested in it. I routinely go through spells when I do without only to realise that it is money well spent. My DH rather we had one. I always try to save then I moan at the inches of dust.

Will never uderstand the slating one gets on MN when mentioning money.

WHich bit do you hate exactly?
I don't mind cleaning and when I set mind to it I can get it done v quickly (or can if I'm left to get on with it , i.e. if I had a school age child and no DH bugging me) but I hate ironing so I have someone to do that.
Maybe this is best way to "sell" it to your dh?

Has you discussed it with your dh? You haven't mentioned that he's objected to the idea.

That should be have.