how much are you willing to outsource?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't wait for the day that I can outsource the lawn mowing to my son...

NOW you're talking. I have a crazy fed job that makes me work 60+ hours a week, but pay is terrible. (I do like the work, though). So, I don't outsource anything, because we cannot afford it. Instead, I just lower my standards for everything household related.

[Anonymous]

We outsource a lot, but also our HHI and situation allows me to set my own hours (well, I own the business). So every day I stop work at 3pm, nanny leaves, and I spend 2+ hours with DD until DW gets back from work. We go out and do errands or otherwise spend time together. Then, I start working again at 10pm while everyone else is asleep, and I sleep in (DW and nanny takes care of mornings).

[Anonymous]

I outsource a fair amount. I don't think this means the kids will grow up thinking that the bathroom cleans itself because we do have chores that we do together at the weekend.

The one thing I REALLY want to outsource but haven't found a way yet is batch cooking for the freezer. I'd pay a fair amount for good, healthy, low salt meals that can just be taken out of the freezer for the kids in the evening and put in the oven. As it is, I spend hours and hours once every 5 weeks or so making them myself. Anyone got any thoughts on who might offer this service?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We outsource a lot, but also our HHI and situation allows me to set my own hours (well, I own the business). So every day I stop work at 3pm, nanny leaves, and I spend 2+ hours with DD until DW gets back from work. We go out and do errands or otherwise spend time together. Then, I start working again at 10pm while everyone else is asleep, and I sleep in (DW and nanny takes care of mornings).

What time do you start your day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is "concierge service" at a physician's office? Is there actually a price you can pay to be a VIP? With preferential treatment?

All the other outsourcing - do what works for you!

But if "concierge service" means paying a special fee so that you can oust some other sick person from having a prime appointment slot, that's not cool. Not blaming you, OP, but I am blaming the physician who set this up. And I sure hope I'm wrong.

yes and its getting VERY popular with the area pediatric practices...not sure how i feel about it

It is very popular BECAUSE people are trying to treat the doctor's office like an ER. THAT is not cool.

Everyone I know has left practices who allow sick people to walk in, because even fi they try to charge a fee, the sick people don't stop trying to have "walk in" service. here's a hint, pick up the phone like the rest of us. Because I'm not waiting in a doctor's office, with sick people coughing all over me, for hours while you decide to walk in. YOU ruin it for EVERYONE, but don't have enough brains to figure that out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I outsource a fair amount. I don't think this means the kids will grow up thinking that the bathroom cleans itself because we do have chores that we do together at the weekend.

The one thing I REALLY want to outsource but haven't found a way yet is batch cooking for the freezer. I'd pay a fair amount for good, healthy, low salt meals that can just be taken out of the freezer for the kids in the evening and put in the oven. As it is, I spend hours and hours once every 5 weeks or so making them myself. Anyone got any thoughts on who might offer this service?

At one point there was "Let's Dish" and "What's for Diner" (or something like that)- could go assemble the stuff for a month one afternoon, freeze, reheat later.

[Anonymous]

At some point, with lots of out sourcing it may just be better to SAHM. I think you need to make 100k as in addition to what spouse makes to make working worthwhile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is "concierge service" at a physician's office? Is there actually a price you can pay to be a VIP? With preferential treatment?

All the other outsourcing - do what works for you!

But if "concierge service" means paying a special fee so that you can oust some other sick person from having a prime appointment slot, that's not cool. Not blaming you, OP, but I am blaming the physician who set this up. And I sure hope I'm wrong.

yes and its getting VERY popular with the area pediatric practices...not sure how i feel about it

It is very popular BECAUSE people are trying to treat the doctor's office like an ER. THAT is not cool.

Everyone I know has left practices who allow sick people to walk in, because even fi they try to charge a fee, the sick people don't stop trying to have "walk in" service. here's a hint, pick up the phone like the rest of us. Because I'm not waiting in a doctor's office, with sick people coughing all over me, for hours while you decide to walk in. YOU ruin it for EVERYONE, but don't have enough brains to figure that out.

And who is this "YOU" you are referring to? Because I've not read anything in this thread advocating not making an appointment. Of course everyone should make an appointment. But I stand by saying "not cool" to allowing patients paying a special fee have, for example, the coveted morning slots, while the minions make do with whatever they can get.

[Anonymous]

I would outsource more but 1) I'm cheap and 2) I honestly think it takes more time to manage the outsourcing than to do things ourselves. We keep things simple. No pets, weekly errand trips, very simple cooking. I get a house cleaner sometimes.

[Anonymous]

We make $225k and live in the burbs and feel we still can't afford much with one child in this area. As for concierge doctors, I interviewed two of them and they were not the sharpest knives in the drawer. So don't assume that these are good at what they do, they may be good business people.

PPs who get cleaning once or twice a week, how is it possible to get your house that dirty week after week.

[Anonymous]

Oh, the poor, struggling dcum middle class

[Anonymous]

If I could afford it, I might outsource housecleaning once or twice a month.

But that's about it. I'd rather spend a little extra time doing things ourselves then wasting money and teaching kids the value of hard work and taking care of themselves is important too.

[Anonymous]

We make $250k and live in Arlington in a condo with a baby. We don't have much in the name of savings but as long as both of us work, we will continue to outsource a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes it is not worth managing all these people who dont have the same standards I have.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I could afford it, I might outsource housecleaning once or twice a month.

But that's about it. I'd rather spend a little extra time doing things ourselves then wasting money and teaching kids the value of hard work and taking care of themselves is important too.

For the record, I make 37K a year outside of the DC area. If I had stayed in the DC area I'd be making about 41K. Far from being DCUM's definition of "middle class".