Where to Find A PT Cook/Housekeeper: Can’t do It All With Kids

[Anonymous]

Between work and kids I’m drowning at home and would like to hire someone 20 hours a week to cook meals and clean/keep the house tidy.

Any suggestions where I can look or post for this kind of role? I haven’t had luck with care..com since the pandemic for other roles.

[Anonymous]

Post on the nanny forums. Leave an email address. Be specific about hours, expectations and pay.
Or post on local listserv or Facebook pages.

[Anonymous]

Do you have a neighborhood listserv?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a neighborhood listserv?

Yes, but it’s pretty inactive. Still worth a try. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Op, you just have to keep asking around/posting, and be realistic about the amount you need to pay and the quality of candidates for a part-time job.

We paid $35 an hour and couldn’t get anyone to come 5 days per week for 4-5 hrs - they wanted to come 2 or 3 days for full days. We ended up going through a few folks who quit for a full time job before I gave up looking for someone. And it’s not just me - My friends who want something similar either ended up getting full time help, or gave up and don’t have help.

I’m assuming that means that the market for folks who do this part time work requires more than we were willing to pay, but I gave up at that point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, you just have to keep asking around/posting, and be realistic about the amount you need to pay and the quality of candidates for a part-time job.

We paid $35 an hour and couldn’t get anyone to come 5 days per week for 4-5 hrs - they wanted to come 2 or 3 days for full days. We ended up going through a few folks who quit for a full time job before I gave up looking for someone. And it’s not just me - My friends who want something similar either ended up getting full time help, or gave up and don’t have help.

I’m assuming that means that the market for folks who do this part time work requires more than we were willing to pay, but I gave up at that point.

I'm an NP who can't afford more than a biweekly cleaner but the bold seems like it would still help a lot! Having my home tidied every other day and food prepped would still be nice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, you just have to keep asking around/posting, and be realistic about the amount you need to pay and the quality of candidates for a part-time job.

We paid $35 an hour and couldn’t get anyone to come 5 days per week for 4-5 hrs - they wanted to come 2 or 3 days for full days. We ended up going through a few folks who quit for a full time job before I gave up looking for someone. And it’s not just me - My friends who want something similar either ended up getting full time help, or gave up and don’t have help.

I’m assuming that means that the market for folks who do this part time work requires more than we were willing to pay, but I gave up at that point.

OP here, thanks so much for sharing your experience, it’s really helpful to understand the landscape as I start my search. I’m sorry you couldn’t find anyone.

[Anonymous]

If you want half-days, find another friend to split full-time with. Ideally, you’d live close together so the nanny wouldn’t spend extra on gas. You’ll find it rough to locate someone with a compatible schedule, which is exactly why the nannies don’t want this type of job.

[Anonymous]

Go on care and search for folks under elder care. You will find a number of retired women who want to earn a little money (at least this is true in my southern state). They aren’t going to scrub toilets. They will do what they might do for an elderly person — keep t her kitchen generally clean, cook a little and maybe a little laundry. I have someone like this three days a week from 2-7. She is also supervising my special needs kid — that is very profound and similar to elder care sitting.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! Good idea!

[Anonymous]

While you look, what about meal kits and such? It takes the mental work out of what’s for dinner. I think they have kid centric ones too.

[Anonymous]

Another good idea! I’ve never used them before but I know there’s a ton to choose from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Between work and kids I’m drowning at home and would like to hire someone 20 hours a week to cook meals and clean/keep the house tidy.

Any suggestions where I can look or post for this kind of role? I haven’t had luck with care..com since the pandemic for other roles.

Then you aren't trying as most women manage very well every damn day. Stop whining and complaining and get organized like the rest of us!

Np. This isn't helpful. Great you don't need help but knocking down women isn't cool

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another good idea! I’ve never used them before but I know there’s a ton to choose from.

I’m the person that has hired help for this stuff and I also do meal kits. It is super simple to leave a note for the person that helps me to “make x recipe from blue apron on Tuesday”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, you just have to keep asking around/posting, and be realistic about the amount you need to pay and the quality of candidates for a part-time job.

We paid $35 an hour and couldn’t get anyone to come 5 days per week for 4-5 hrs - they wanted to come 2 or 3 days for full days. We ended up going through a few folks who quit for a full time job before I gave up looking for someone. And it’s not just me - My friends who want something similar either ended up getting full time help, or gave up and don’t have help.

I’m assuming that means that the market for folks who do this part time work requires more than we were willing to pay, but I gave up at that point.

I'm an NP who can't afford more than a biweekly cleaner but the bold seems like it would still help a lot! Having my home tidied every other day and food prepped would still be nice!

I have someone who comes two afternoons a week -- she does all kids' laundry, towels, and some random other loads (inclduing folding and putting away). She fully prepares our dinner those two nights. She unloads the dishwasher those two days and declutters. She does seasonal stuff like rotate out kid's closets, organize play room. Occasionally she will run an errand or two. Two days is absolutely better than zero. She could only do two afternoons because the rest of the hours in her week were already accounted for with similar gigs. We found her through a friend that already used her as a housekeeper, and she (the housekeeper) was looking for another family to get her to 40 hours a week. We pay $125 for each afternoon -- she stays about 4 hours. Money VERY well spent.