Kitchen

[house_cat]

I have able-bodied friends who don't clean their own houses, or cook their own food, or do their own laundry, or wash their own cars, or paint their own nails... the list goes on and on.

Maybe if I had enough money, I'd be the same way. I don't know. Maybe.

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by all I have to do, but most times it gives me a good feeling to do my own cooking and housework.

I think I'd feel lost if I had none of those things to do?

Does anyone else feel this way?

[Snowpuppy]

It's the age old argument of time vs money.

I have co workers who have housekeepers and I know women who are so fussy that no one would clean as well as they do so they still do it themselves. I'm leaning toward a housekeeper but haven't hired one yet.

I still cook, bake and keep a deep pantry so I have busy farmer's market days too where I spend hours preparing my finds for the freezer. I take my vehicle to the car wash, too big, too much hassle and winters here are too brutal to do it yourself.I do my own laundry and do lug comforters to the laundromat when necessary.

I do get a mani/pedi because I can't get nail polish on right as much as I try. I pay someone to shovel and plow the drive and walkways.

I work 40+ hours a week plus a long commute. I'm healthy and I thank God that I can climb a ladder, paint walls and scrub floors but I've learned to get help when I need it around the house.

[Mominohio]

I know it is 'to each his own' and I have never been of great wealth, but it seems to me, wasteful to pay someone to do what you can for yourself.

If age or physical condition make it hard, or dangerous, then of course it makes perfect sense to hire what you need, if you are able to afford it.

And I know the old adage about time vs money, but guess I've never been on the financial end where I wanted or could afford to pay the hard earned money for something I can do myself. And for the time spent completing a particular chore, some folks could earn triple by working those same hours, and paying a service to do that chore for them. They are actually ahead to pay to have it done (just never been there myself).

There are things we all can't do for ourselves ( different for each one of us) and if they are to be done, they must be hired done, but I agree that there is satisfaction to doing for yourself.

And sometimes I wonder if some shouldn't ask themselves that if they have so much more money than time, perhaps they would get greater satisfaction out of spending less time making money, and more time enjoying and working on/with the things that money is buying.

[GCR18]

The benefit for me is more money in my pocket. I had a cleaning service for a couple years when I was traveling alot for work. Once the travel stopped, I took back the cleaning and paid myself instead. I cook, clean, shovel, mow lawn, laundry, etc. I splurge on nails a couple times a year.

[Carmie]

My husband and I both work full time. We have raised three children who are grown and have moved out.

I have NEVER had anyone clean my home. I don't trust anyone to do so. When I was a child, my mother had a lady whom she knew very well to clean for us once in a while. This person was nosy and went through all my personal belongings. How do I know?

Well, I was given a ring by my godmother, It was an adult ring that I admired and she gave it to me to save for when I was older. I loved that ring and hid it, still in the small ring box she gave it to me in. One day the ring was gone. I had hidden it under my lingerie in my dresser.

I saw our cleaning lady wearing MY ring while we were out. I wanted to demand that she return it to me, but my mother would not let me. I was heart broken. This same person stole my older sister's shorts. but not the matching top. I wonder what else she stole that we didn't notice.

We wash our own cars, my DH does all the mechanics on our vehicles. He even does body work for fender benders and paints our cars when necessary. He maintains our lawn and I do the flower beds and garden and we own two snow blowers.

In our almost 42 years of marriage, we have paid very little for someone to do our dirty work. When you pay for someone to do something for you, especially in your home and sometimes your car, you give someone a personal glimpse into your life. I don't feel comfortable airing my dirty laundry to a person who has the potential to make it public.

We still have time to travel and do things together. I don't feel we are giving up anything at all.

If you have issues with health or mobility that's a different story. I hope I never come to that cross road, but if so, it will be difficult for me to request help.

[wismiss]

Different priorities for different people.

[Frau K]

I also like to keep more money in my family's pocket. The wife of a coworker helped me clean the house for a few years, now the hubby, daughter and I do it together and it's free. I do get my toes done every three weeks, just because I love that. I only go to the salon for haircuts twice a year,( low maintenance cut). But I spend WAY to much on skincare!

[Tantallum]

my husband and I both work >50 hours a week. we have a cleaning person come once per week and I love it. We can afford it and it allows us to spend our rare leisure time actually relaxing and not cleaning (or fighting over whose job it is to do what).

we don't spend money on fancy vacations or expensive dinners. If we had more time or less money, obviously it would be different, but I really like this as a splurge for our household.

[Frau K]

Yes, I do miss leisure time......

[Desertdi]

I intend to "do it myself" as long as I am physically able.......in fact, I just cut down an 8-foot cactus that didn't make it through the December freeze. And it was a big job...........