What extra support have you got to make life easier at home?

[floops]

I have just been lucky enough to get a promotion. This means I will be increasing my hours again. Help!!! I need to employ all methods of making life easier at home so that when I am not working we have quality famliy time and not housework etc. I plan to get a cleaner obviously but what other things do you all do to ease the burden? Lots of tips needed.

I just have one 5 day week of menus and do the same order every week from ocado, we have our variety with a small shopping trip at the weekend. The key thing about the menu is it's taped to the fridge so if I am tied up when dh wants feeding or vice versa we know what to throw on the table, on autopilot. I order more and more stuff online, you can do it when it suits you.

Thanks everyone - all great tips and much needed. The only way to stop feeling guilty about increasing my hours is to make sure I have plenty of preserved time to spend with the kids (ds 2.10yrs and dd 16mths). I just need to go about finding the recommended cleaner, ironing - found a place! On line shopping sorted - possibly got a gardener and Hubby has started cooking!!!

thanks pamina and bells, our cleaner, as i feared/hoped (long story!) has just resigned so i really need to get on it now!

pamina, if you are still there, i would be grateful if you would see if the polish mafia extends to the clapham area...

thanks again.